Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is expected to enter her new home in Portsmouth as soon as next Thursday, August 17, UK defense secretary Michael Fallon announced.
The biggest warship Britain has ever built left Scotland’s Rosyth dockyard in June to complete trials before entering its homeport of Portsmouth Naval Base before the end of the month.
Whilst weather conditions mean the exact date of the historic moment is yet to be confirmed, the window for entry will open next Thursday (17/08), with her arrival expected to be no later than the following Tuesday (22/08).
“In just two weeks’ time, the most powerful warship ever built for Britain’s famous Royal Navy is set to sail into her proud new home in Portsmouth,” Fallon said.
“HMS Queen Elizabeth will be the Royal Navy’s flagship for the next 50 years, keeping us safe by deploying across the seven seas, using her strike power to deter our enemies.”
With the F-35B Lightning fighter jets on track to make their first trial flights from the 65,000-tonne carrier’s deck next year, the UK is now building towards delivering carrier strike capability.
The UK ministry of defense plans to have an initial carrier strike operating capability by December 2020, something the UK has been without since the Invincible-class aircraft carrier left service.