British aircraft miss out on starring role in major NATO exercise twice

• A British aircraft carrier failed to fulfill its role in a NATO exercise for the second time in a row.
• The first HMS Queen Elizabeth broke down and her replacement was not launched as scheduled.
• The spotlight was placed on the capabilities of the Royal Navy, which aims to become the best in the world.

A Royal Navy aircraft carrier was aborted on Sunday to take part in a NATO exercise, the second such failure in a week.

The British aircraft carrier was due to be the centerpiece of NATO’s Steadfast Defender exercise off the coast of Norway.

Its twin-engine modern airlines cost about $3.7 billion each. These are among the most modern in the world and underline Britain’s aspirations for a first-class military.

However, neither could succeed. The first candidate, Queen Elizabeth, broke down on the eve of departure.

Her successor, HMS Prince of Wales, was due to set sail on Sunday, but the launch was suddenly canceled.

Sky News reported that crowds gathered to watch the ship set sail, but it turned out it would not sail.

Instead, it sailed the next day from its home port in Portsmouth, England.

Although only one day behind schedule, the Royal Navy was embarrassed by yet another unexplained delay after HMS Queen Elizabeth canceled an exercise due to a problem with its starboard propeller shaft.

The Prince of Wales itself underwent several months of repairs after breaking down in 2022.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense did not give a reason for the delay, but said the carrier was “scheduled to depart Portsmouth shortly, subject to tidal and weather conditions being suitable.”

From protecting ships from Houthi militants in the Red Sea to thwarting Russian and Chinese aggression, the Royal Navy is seeking a central role in flashpoints of conflict around the world.

But critics argue that years of government funding shortfalls have affected the Royal Navy’s combat readiness.

Admiral Lord West, former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, told Business Insider last week that the cuts had a “serious impact” on the Navy’s ability to respond to global threats.

He cited a series of problems, including an aging ballistic missile submarine fleet, “precariously low” weapons and technology inventories, and severe staffing shortages. He also said the Royal Navy lacked sufficient ships, particularly destroyers and frigates.

British aircraft carriers will rely on foreign allies for support vessels during NATO exercises, according to reports.

HMS Queen Elizabeth entered service in 2017 and Prince of Wales in 2019, each costing approximately $3.7 billion.

February 12, 2024, 9:25 a.m. ET: This article was updated after HMS Prince of Wales left port.