Royal Navy: Return of carriers. HMS Queen Elizabeth naval trials are underway

One of the most important stages of the sea trials of the HMS aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, the first of two ships of this class built for the Royal Navy, is underway. They are related to aircraft operations. It is a symbolic return of lost abilities – let us remind you that the Royal Navy last verticals of British Aerospace Sea Harrier withdrew from operation in March 2006.

On August 18, the aircraft carrier left its base in Portsmouth and headed for the eastern coast of the United States, where an 11-week trial of multi-purpose vertical take-off and landing aircraft Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, purchased by the United Kingdom, began. Planes intended for the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy are currently being delivered to the UK and are based in Marham, Norfolk County. So far, 16 have been taken, a total of 138.

The mission of HMS Queen Elizabeth and the British frigate of HMS Monmouth escorting her and the American destroyer UUS Lassen off the coast of the United States bears the code name Westlant 18. On an aircraft carrier leaving their native waters were boarded helicopters fighting submarines AgustaWestland Merlin Mk2 of 820. Naval Air Squadron from base at Culdrose and Merlin Mk4 of 845. Naval Air Squadron from Yeovilton Base. The ship has more than 1,400 crew and maintenance members and Royal Marines.

On September 25 kmdr Lt. Royal Navy Nathan Gray and Major Andy Edgell Royal Air Force seated behind the rudders of two Lightnings II, made their first vertical landings on the latest British aircraft carrier. Shortly after that, Gary became the first pilot to launch from the ship, using a jump on his bow. This pair of machines belongs to the Integrated Test Force (ITF) of Naval Air Station Patent River, Maryland. They are supported by about 200 additional crewed specialists, technicians and engineers and analysts from the ITF.

Soon there were further milestones of testing. On October 3, the first Lightning II launches and landings were made under night conditions. The trials were carried out with and without night vision devices. The pilots approached the aircraft carrier intuitively, guided by a scant ambient light, and then lighting the aircraft deck, after which they used night vision goggles. Further, also the premiere landings involved heavy-duty MV-22 Osprey conversions belonging to the US Marine Corps and the MH-53E Sea Dragon transport helicopter from the US Navy. Both landings and takeoffs were made on October 11. Four days later, test pilot Peter Wilson made an unusual landing, referred to as Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL). This method looks like a marriage of conventional landing with vertical: the aircraft performs a more typical approach, approaching the aircraft carrier from the stern with a certain, small speed, after which it uses both the carrier force produced by the wings as well as the engine nozzle leading down the vector thrust to gently touch the deck and stop after a short run. This procedure will only be used by the Royal Navy, and its essence is the possibility of landing a large-mass aircraft, e.g. with still unused weapons or fuel, without having to drop it, which is economically irrational. Wilson was preparing for this operation in a simulator, landing more than 2,000 times.

Speaking of weaponry, on October 18, the first test drop of GBU-12 Paveway II laser-controlled bomb took place from F-35B starting with HMS Queen Elizabeth. The bomb had no combat charge and was the first ever American production used from the Royal Navy ship.

In total, more than 500 take-offs and landings are planned in different configurations and conditions. Twin aircraft carriers Queen Elizabeth and prepared for sea trials Prince of Wales – the largest British ships built after World War II – can take 24 Lightnings II each and in addition helicopters of several types. HMS Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to begin operational service in 2021.

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