Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:30:02-2:31:17

The Royal Navy-RAF joint F-35 force

The Queen Elizabeth-class air group was being built as an integrated Royal Navy-RAF force, with service identity and command crossing squadron boundaries.

Aircraft CarriersF-35 Lightning IIFleet Air ArmInterservice CooperationRoyal Air Force
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Question

How integrated were the Royal Navy and RAF elements of the Queen Elizabeth-class F-35 air group?

Short answer

They were being organized as a genuinely joint force, including RAF and Fleet Air Arm squadrons with cross-service personnel and command.

Notes

The British F-35 force was being established jointly, illustrated by 617 Squadron, an RAF-badged unit then commanded by a Royal Navy officer. Some squadrons would carry Fleet Air Arm identities and others RAF identities, while personnel and command arrangements crossed those labels. It remained uncertain whether later operations would preserve that integration or produce more distinct land- and sea-focused units.