British Aircraft Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth Became a NATO Flagship Following a Two-Year Refit

On September 5, the Royal Navy HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier departed the Portsmouth naval base and began a three-month deployment in the waters off the United Kingdom and Northern Europe.

Navy Lookout reported on this.

During this new deployment, a NATO command post will be established on the ship. In July, HMS Queen Elizabeth was designated as the floating command post for the maritime component of NATO’s Allied Response Force (Maritime).

This is the first time that one of the two British Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers has been assigned this role.

A command center has been established on board the aircraft carrier to direct NATO’s multinational naval forces and coordinate the interaction of ships and aircraft from various Alliance countries during crisis situations.

HMS Queen Elizabeth sails from Portsmouth this evening as she returns to operations today after her first major refit.

She will be away for 3 months operating in the Euro-Atlantic region. First up – further training and certification by @FOSThttps://t.co/o1EMekv2q5

Via… pic.twitter.com/IoPYpaEuJ8

— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) September 5, 2026

HMS Queen Elizabeth underwent its first major overhaul since joining the Royal Navy in 2017. The multi-phase maintenance program began in November 2024.

One of the key stages was the ship’s eight-month stay in dry dock at Rosyth. During the overhaul, specialists modernized its propulsion system and carried out a number of other engineering tasks.

Before the aircraft carrier is deployed for operations and exercises, an intensive training program will be organized under the guidance of the Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST) organization.

This program will cover aviation operations, the combat use of the aircraft carrier, and the fundamentals of naval warfare. Along with HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless departed from Portsmouth on September 4.

Both ships may participate in the Atlantic Thunder 2026 exercises, which involve joint training with the U.S. Navy to destroy a target ship off the coast of Scotland. The exercises are scheduled for September 17–21.

HMS Queen Elizabeth’s training will continue through 2027 and will include large-scale NATO exercises.

By the end of 2027, the aircraft carrier is set to replace HMS Prince of Wales as the Royal Navy’s flagship and primary strike vessel with high combat readiness.

This fall, HMS Prince of Wales will embark on the second phase of Operation FIRECREST, which will also take place in the North Atlantic.

The return of HMS Queen Elizabeth to active service comes as the United Kingdom prepares to establish a hybrid carrier air wing.

The Defense Investment Plan allocates £240 million to develop new unmanned aerial vehicles, including jet-powered UAVs, which are intended to operate alongside F-35B Lightning fighter jets.