The Queen Elizabeth class is the Royal Navy's two-ship STOVL aircraft-carrier class, built by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance led by BAE Systems, Babcock, Thales, and the UK Ministry of Defence. Each 65,000-tonne carrier uses a ski-jump flight deck for F-35B and helicopter operations, and HMS Queen Elizabeth generated the class's first combat sorties during the 2021 Carrier Strike Group deployment.
Royal Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps F-35B aircraft operating from HMS Queen Elizabeth flew anti-ISIS combat missions over Iraq and Syria in June 2021 as part of Operation Shader and 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve.
The class consists of two commissioned ships rather than separate production variants; both are STOVL carriers built around F-35B and helicopter operations.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) | Lead ship | Commissioned in December 2017 and later used for the 2021 Carrier Strike Group deployment that generated the class's first combat sorties. Sources: Queen welcomes Royal Navy's largest ever ship into the fleet, Record size and scope of Carrier Strike Group deployment announced |
| HMS Prince of Wales (R09) | Second ship | Commissioned in December 2019 and used for later carrier-air-wing trials, including the Mojave uncrewed-aircraft launch-and-recovery demonstration. Sources: Commissioning day for HMS Prince of Wales, Royal Navy successful crewless aircraft trials offer glimpse into the future |
The Queen Elizabeth class is built around STOVL carrier air operations and a ski-jump deck.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | STOVL fighter | Royal Navy carrier data says the class can embark up to 36 F-35B jets, and the F-35B is the STOVL variant designed to operate from Queen Elizabeth-class ships. Sources: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier | Royal Navy, F-35 Lightning Aircraft | Royal Navy |
Queen Elizabeth-class ships are configured for STOVL carrier aviation, with F-35B jets as the fixed-wing strike element and helicopters or trial aircraft filling mission-specific roles.
| Area | Documented capability | Catalog relevance |
|---|---|---|
| F-35B fast jets | Royal Navy data lists capacity for up to 36 F-35B jets. | |
| Carrier strike group | GOV.UK recorded initial operating capability in January 2021. | The 2021 deployment anchors the 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve use row. |
| Uncrewed aviation | Royal Navy coverage described a Mojave trial from HMS Prince of Wales. | Future air-wing context; not a conflict-use claim. |
Royal Navy coverage recorded the lead ship's commissioning into the fleet in December 2017.
Royal Navy coverage recorded the second ship's commissioning in December 2019, completing the two-ship class in service.
GOV.UK reported that the UK Carrier Strike Group had reached initial operating capability with HMS Queen Elizabeth, F-35B aircraft, Merlin helicopters, escorts, and support shipping.
Royal Navy and USNI reporting documented RAF and U.S. Marine Corps F-35B strike missions from HMS Queen Elizabeth against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria.
Royal Navy coverage described a Mojave launch-and-recovery trial from HMS Prince of Wales, pointing to future carrier air-wing options rather than a conflict-use claim.
