- UK to deploy Carrier Strike Group to the North Atlantic and
High North in 2026 in a major boost for regional security.
- Powerful show of force with Royal Navy warships, F-35 jets
and helicopters to deter Russian aggression and protect vital
undersea infrastructure.
- Deployment will include major exercises alongside US,
Canadian, and Northern European allies.
Britain will send its Carrier Strike Group back to sea in 2026 in
a major show of force across the Euro-Atlantic and High North,
reinforcing NATO's deterrence at a time of rising Russian threats
in the region.
Known as ‘Operation Firecrest' and led by HMS Prince of Wales –
the largest warship in the Royal Navy – the UK will deploy the
strike group across the North Atlantic and Arctic. It will
include world-class Royal Navy warships and RAF fifth-generation
F-35 fighter jets to bolster defence and security.
It comes as Russia's military activity in the North Atlantic
continues to increase. Over the past two years, there has been a
30% increase in Russian navy vessels threatening UK waters.
The deployment will see the UK and US working side-by-side on
Euro-Atlantic security around the North American East Coast,
boosting the historic alliance between the two nations. The
Carrier Strike Group will sail across the Atlantic to visit a US
port, with US jets also expected to operate from the flight deck
of HMS Prince of Wales.
The deployment will include activity under NATO's Arctic Sentry
mission, launched this week, strengthening the Alliance's
security in a region where melting sea ice is opening new routes
and increasing threat from hostile state activity.
With growing concern over Russian operations in the
Greenland-Iceland-UK gap and the increased risk to critical
undersea cables and pipelines, the deployment will send a clear
message that the UK will always defend its waters, protect
critical infrastructure, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its
Allies.
Defence Secretary MP said:
“I'm proud that we're stepping up UK leadership on High North and
Atlantic security.
“This deployment will help make Britain warfighting ready, boost
our contribution to NATO, and strengthen our operations with key
allies, keeping the UK secure at home and strong abroad.”
Operation Firecrest will involve thousands of personnel from all
three services of the Armed Forces, demonstrating Britain's
ability to project force wherever it is needed and operate
seamlessly within NATO. The Carrier Strike Group will exercise
alongside NATO's Standing Naval Maritime Group 1, itself being
led by the UK, with HMS Dragon acting as the command ship of the
NATO maritime group throughout 2026.
Parts of the deployment will fall under NATO command, including
close cooperation with operational headquarters Joint Force
Command Norfolk, which is set to be under the command of a
British officer for the first time.
The deployment will be carried out alongside key allies including
the United States, Canada, and Joint Expeditionary Force nations,
building on the UK's growing defence cooperation in the High
North and reaffirming the strength of the historic UK–US defence
relationship.
This reinforces the UK's commitment to High North security and
builds on the Defence Secretary's commitment to double the number
of UK troops deployed to Norway, from 1,000 to 2,000.
It also reaffirms the Government's commitment to stepping up on
defence. The UK has committed to the largest sustained increase
in defence spending since the end of the Cold War – hitting 2.6%
of GDP from 2027 – to ensure that Britain and our allies are
safe.
The deployment follows the success of the UK's 2025 Carrier
Strike Group mission to the Indo-Pacific, which saw over 1,000
F-35 sorties and activity with over 30 nations, and resulted in
the UK's Carrier Strike Group being certified fully ‘mission
ready' and committed to NATO.
