Britain's largest warship is ready to set sail on her maiden voyage to the US.
The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will leave her home city of Portsmouth on Saturday evening for the 11-week trip, which will see two F-35s flown onto her deck for the first time.
The fighter planes are American – from a base in Maryland – but the first landing will be made by a British pilot.
Three British pilots will be taking part in the US deployment – a Royal Navy commander, an RAF squadron leader and a civilian test pilot.
They will be joined by a Major from the US Marine Corps.
HMS Queen Elizabeth will not get a chance to test the British-owned versions of the planes until next year.
:: Navy's new flagship is a true feat of engineering
It is planned that, by the time the carrier is fully deployed in 2021, it will carry a squadron of around 12 of them.
They arrived from the US in June and are currently based at RAF Marham in Norfolk.
Until then, she has been rehearsing with helicopters, carrying out more than 1,000 take-offs and landings since arriving at Portsmouth around a year ago.
For the US trip, the aircraft carrier will be joined by support ship RFA Tiderace, frigate HMS Monmouth, Merlin helicopters from various squadrons across the country and Royal Marines from 42 Commando, Plymouth.
With a price tag of £3bn, the 65,000-ton ship has been criticised by some as too expensive but the Queen Elizabeth's commanding officer said Russian activity was among the reasons for the Royal Navy to maintain a "balance, strong and able, capable fleet".
Captain Jerry Kyd said: "The increase in Russian activity we have seen in the last couple of years is frightening and for national security reasons it just underlines why we need to maintain a balanced, strong and able, capable fleet.
"It's been quite eye-watering what we have seen in the last couple of years."
He added: "Crossing a major ocean with 1,500 sailors, aircrew and marines embarked and the spectre of the first F-35B Lightning landing on the deck in September is very exciting for us all."
Commodore Andrew Betton, commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, said Russian submarines were more active in the North Atlantic now than at any time since the Cold War ended.
:: HMS Queen Elizabeth – facts and figures
He said the ship would be "well protected" as she made her way across the sea, adding: "We are not seeking confrontation, we are heading to the east coast of the United States to conduct trials.
"These first F-35B embarked trials in a UK aircraft carrier are not only key to future operational success but represent an iconic moment for the modern Royal Navy."
[contf]
[contfnew]
Sky News
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
