For the first time in naval history, U.S. and UK nuclear-powered aircraft carriers have jointly operated in a synchronized combat formation. During Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 in the Timor Sea, the U.S. Navy’s USS George Washington (CVN 73) and the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales (R09) executed coordinated maritime operations—marking a major milestone in transatlantic naval cooperation.
The bilateral maneuver showcased integrated power projection and air wing interoperability, with both carriers launching joint flight operations featuring U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and Royal Navy F-35B Lightning IIs. The event represents a significant enhancement in allied carrier strike capabilities within the Indo-Pacific theater, signaling unified deterrence in an increasingly contested maritime region.
The USS George Washington, flagship of a carrier strike group, operated alongside the USS Robert Smalls (CG 62) and USS Shoup (DDG 86). Meanwhile, HMS Prince of Wales was accompanied by the air-defense destroyer HMS Dauntless (D33) and replenishment vessel RFA Tidespring (A136). Allied naval units from Australia (HMAS Sydney), Norway (HNoMS Roald Amundsen), and Canada (HMCS Ville de Québec) further reinforced the multinational dimension of the exercise.
Conducted biennially, Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between the United States and Australia. The 2025 iteration involves participation from 19 nations and over 35,000 personnel. The dual carrier operations served as a headline event, underlining not only advanced tactical integration but also the enduring strategic partnership among Western allies.
The deployment of two nuclear-powered carriers—each representing the apex of maritime aviation for their respective nations—demonstrates a deliberate step toward greater force interoperability. The USS George Washington, commissioned in 1992, brings over 100,000 tons of nuclear-powered air power with a full carrier air wing, while HMS Prince of Wales, commissioned in 2019, showcases the Royal Navy’s next-generation carrier capabilities with a hybrid air wing centered around the STOVL-capable F-35B.
This joint operation comes at a critical moment in Indo-Pacific security dynamics. China’s rapid naval expansion—including the deployment of two aircraft carriers and the forthcoming third, Fujian—continues to shift the balance of power in the region. Against this backdrop, the U.S.–UK dual carrier formation sends a clear message: allied navies are united, interoperable, and ready to uphold international maritime order.
As geopolitical tensions escalate, Talisman Sabre 2025 underscores the necessity of integrated readiness. The coordinated deployment of USS George Washington and HMS Prince of Wales not only redefines allied naval reach but also affirms a shared commitment to peace, stability, and deterrence across the Indo-Pacific.
