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The UK’s aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has been placed on a heightened state of readiness, requiring the crew to be prepared to depart from Portsmouth within five days, according to defence sources. Previously, the vessel’s notice to sail was 14 days. This acceleration in readiness suggests a possible deployment to the Mediterranean region, where British interests could be under threat amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Currently undergoing routine maintenance in Portsmouth, HMS Prince of Wales was initially scheduled for a deployment to the North Atlantic and Arctic later this year. The carrier strike group had planned to participate in Operation Firecrest alongside allies from the US, Canada, and Europe, focusing on deterring Russian aggression in the High North. Despite this planned operation, the increased readiness indicates a potential shift in priorities or response to evolving circumstances.
Alongside the carrier, a Type 45 destroyer, HMS Dragon, has also been deployed to the region. However, it remains in port and will not be ready to sail until next week. The Ministry of Defence confirmed the status update of HMS Prince of Wales and emphasized the UK’s ongoing efforts to enhance military presence in the Middle East since January, including the deployment of aircraft and additional personnel.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Defence stated, “We have been bolstering our UK military presence in the Middle East since January, and we have already deployed capabilities to protect British people and our allies in the region, including Typhoons, F-35 jets, air defence systems and an extra 400 personnel into Cyprus. Since the strikes began, we’ve had British jets in the sky shooting down drones and have sent additional assets to the region to further reinforce our air defences, including more Typhoons and Wildcat helicopters with drone busting missiles. HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment.”
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