7th November 2023 at 4:17pm
Britain’s biggest warship HMS Prince of Wales has completed her F-35 fast jet Development Test Phase 3 (DT3) trials.
The Royal Navy aircraft carrier has been training with US aircraft off America’s east coast, which had to be delayed after the carrier broke down near the Isle of Wight last year after leaving Portsmouth to deploy to the US.
The Royal Navy has been working to expand the operating limits of the jet, to develop advanced takeoff and landing techniques, allowing the aircraft to launch with more weapons.
- US F-35 completes first shipborne rolling vertical landing on HMS Prince of Wales
- First F-35 shipborne rolling vertical landing to be made on HMS Prince of Wales
- HMS Prince of Wales’ long-awaited F-35 trials begin off US east
Around 200 American personnel from the Pax River F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) embarked on the carrier for up to four weeks of sea trials.
The ITF team collected data to enhance the operating capability of the jet with the carrier.
Amerian F-35Bs completed the first shipborne rolling vertical landings (SRVL) on the vessel in October.
The world’s first night-time F-35 SRVL was made on HMS Prince of Wales less than two weeks later.
The SRVL sees an aircraft land on the carrier after approaching the ship from behind at speed, before using thrust from the aircraft’s nozzle and lift created by air over the wings to touch down and gently come to a stop.
Previously, F-35 jets had only landed on the ship vertically, which sees them hovering by the side of the £3bn carrier before moving sideways and lowering onto the flight deck.