English: Image show UK F-35 Lightning jets onboard Britain’s next generation aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time. HMS Dragon, a Type 45 Destroyer is also seen in the background.

Flown by Royal Navy and Royal Air Force pilots, the Lightning jets were embarking on the 65,000 tonne carrier to conduct operational trials off the East Coast of the USA.

This followed successful developmental trials the previous year with US Lightning jets, where forces conducted 500 take offs and landings over their 11-week period at sea.

These trials are aimed at ‘end-to-end’ testing of the aircraft and personnel to ensure the aircraft are compatible with the carrier. The tests involve mission planning, arming the aircraft using the ship’s Highly Automated Weapon Handling System, flying missions and debriefing on completion.

The landings on HMS Queen Elizabeth were part of the ‘WESTLANT 19’ Carrier Strike Group deployment.

Once fully operational, UK Carrier Strike Group will be a formidable force around the world, using a number of platforms to work alongside our allies.

• Organization: Royal Navy
• Object Name: BP190035011
• Category: MOD
• Supplemental Categories: F-35, Offensive, Aircraft, Type 45, Destroyers, Carriers, Ships, Equipment, Exercises, Operations, Training, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, People
• Keywords: Anti-Air Warfare, Surface Fleet, North Atlantic, Sailing, Action, 17 SQN, 17 Test and Evaluation Squadron, 617 SQN, Air Warfare Centre, Aircraft Carrier, Atlantic North, AWC, Carrier Strike Group, CSG, F-35, F-35B, Fast Jet, First Landing, Lightning II, Queen Elizabeth R08, Surface Ship, UK Jets, UK Lightning Force, WESTLA NT 19, Royal Navy, Equipment, Destroyer, DDG, Type 45, HMS Dragon, D35, Carrier, CVF, Queen Elizabeth Class, QE Class, HMS Queen Elizabeth, R08, Flight Deck, Ramp, Flight Operations, Lightning, Clouds, Terrain, Environment, Landscape, Scenery, Water, Ocean
• Country: At Sea