Messaging Continues:
According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on July 18, 2025, the U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09) conducted their first-ever dual carrier operations while underway in the Timor Sea during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. This historic event marks the first time that nuclear-powered aircraft carriers from both the United States and the United Kingdom have operated together in a coordinated maritime formation.
Sailing alongside a formidable multinational naval force, the U.S. Navy USS George Washington aircraft carrier led a carrier strike group comprising the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86). Parallel to this, British Navy HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier operated with British Royal Navy assets including the Daring-class air-defense destroyer HMS Dauntless (D33) and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Tide-class replenishment tanker RFA Tidespring (A136). The exercise also included allied ships from Australia, Norway, and Canada: HMAS Sydney (DDG 42), HNoMS Roald Amundsen (F311), and HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH 332), further emphasizing the scale and multinational scope of the operation.
The milestone reflects a deepening of operational integration between the U.S. and UK navies, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Aircraft from both carriers, including the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets of Carrier Air Wing 5 aboard USS George Washington and F-35B Lightning II jets operating from HMS Prince of Wales, conducted joint flight operations, validating carrier air wing interoperability in a contested maritime environment. The complex coordination of two nuclear-powered carriers and their escorts during Talisman Sabre 2025 represents a leap in allied power projection and maritime deterrence capabilities.
Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, the largest bilateral training event between the U.S. and Australia, includes 19 nations and over 35,000 personnel. The dual carrier maneuver was a highlight of this year’s iteration and signifies a strategic evolution in allied carrier strike group deployment and joint maritime warfare readiness. This first-time deployment of U.S. and UK nuclear-powered carriers in a unified operational context not only demonstrates a new level of joint capability, but also sends a clear message of resolve, coordination, and deterrence to potential regional adversaries.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) is a nuclear-powered supercarrier of the United States Navy, commissioned in 1992 and designed to project air power globally through sustained carrier strike operations. Displacing over 100,000 tons and capable of carrying more than 75 aircraft, George Washington is equipped with advanced radar, defensive systems, and a nuclear propulsion system that enables continuous high-speed operations without refueling for over 20 years. As part of Carrier Air Wing 5, it operates F/A-18 Super Hornets, E-2D Hawkeyes, EA-18G Growlers, and MH-60 helicopters, making it a central asset in U.S. naval combat readiness and regional deterrence.
The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09) is one of the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy, entering service in 2019 and serving as a cutting-edge platform for fifth-generation maritime aviation. Designed with a twin-island configuration and advanced automation systems, it displaces around 65,000 tons and can operate up to 40 aircraft, including the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B Lightning II. As part of the UK Carrier Strike Group, HMS Prince of Wales delivers strategic flexibility and combat reach, supporting NATO operations and forward presence missions across the globe.
The growing importance of bilateral maritime exercises in the Indo-Pacific is directly linked to the region’s evolving security landscape, especially amid China’s rapid military expansion and the advancement of its indigenous aircraft carrier program. With China now operating two active carriers and preparing to commission its third and most advanced carrier, the Fujian, there is increasing concern over the potential shift in naval balance and regional power projection. The joint operations conducted during Talisman Sabre 2025 reinforce a collective Western commitment to maintaining maritime security, ensuring freedom of navigation, and preparing for high-end conflict scenarios. These strategic deployments signal to Beijing that allied navies are unified, capable, and ready to counter any attempts to challenge international norms or destabilize the region’s maritime domain.
Featured image: U.S. Navy USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group conducts dual carrier operations with British Royal Navy HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group in the Timor Sea during Exercise Talisman Sabre on July 18, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
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