The aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09), flagship of the Royal Navy, arrived in Tokyo for the first time as part of Operation Highmast and the deployment of Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25) in the Indo-Pacific. The stop in the Japanese capital is framed within a series of activities aimed at strengthening cooperation between the United Kingdom, Japan, and other regional allies.
The arrival of the carrier was accompanied by sailors lined up on deck and received a welcome from authorities and citizens from different points of the city. The ship, which leads the British strike group, will open its doors to the public for visits and will host the Pacific Future Forum, an international meeting bringing together representatives of defense, security, and industry. Likewise, a Defence and Security Industry Day is planned, aimed at showcasing the technological and innovation capabilities of the British defense sector.
“After a short but intense maintenance period in Yokosuka, it is a great privilege to bring the flagship of the Royal Navy to the center of Tokyo,” said Captain Will Blackett, commander of HMS Prince of Wales. “Before arriving, we exercised with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force at sea. It has been a great opportunity to demonstrate what we can do together and our commitment to working with our partners in the Indo-Pacific region,” he added.
The welcome ceremony was attended by the UK Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, the Japanese Minister of Defence, Gen Nakatani, and the Chief of the Royal Navy, First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins.
Multinational exercises in the Philippine Sea
Prior to its arrival, the aircraft carrier completed a series of drills with the Japanese helicopter carrier JS Kaga in the Philippine Sea. For nine days, naval and air units from six countries — including Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Spain, and Norway — carried out combined maneuvers.
This achievement was preceded by instances of exchange and preparation between the forces, including visits of Japanese officers to HMS Prince of Wales in 2023 and to the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour in 2024. Japan, for its part, is moving forward with the incorporation of 42 F-35Bs assigned to the Izumo class, with operations scheduled to begin in 2027 on the JS Izumo and in 2028 on the JS Kaga.
Replenishment at sea and regional deployment
In parallel, the British aircraft carrier carried out a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) operation in the Philippine Sea. The maneuver included fuel, munitions, supplies, and spare parts, and was conducted simultaneously by the British tanker RFA Tidespring and the U.S. logistics ship USNS Wally Schirra. It was the first “double RAS” carried out by the Prince of Wales, while maintaining air operations with F-35B fighters and helicopters on deck.
Operation Highmast constitutes the largest British naval deployment of 2025. With a duration of nine months, the itinerary has included stops in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Singapore, and Australia, and now focuses its activities in Asia. More than 4,500 British personnel are participating in this mission, including about 600 RAF members, 900 Army soldiers, and 2,500 sailors and Royal Marines.
After its stay in Tokyo, HMS Prince of Wales will rejoin its escorts, the frigate HMS Richmond and the logistics ship RFA Tidespring, which are located in Busan, Republic of Korea.
*Images obtained from the Royal Navy
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