US, UK and Japan Coordinate Aircraft Carrier Operations in the Strategic Indo Pacific.

On August 10, 2025, the Philippine Sea was the scene of a naval maneuver of an unusual format, bringing together for the first time three aircraft carriers from three different nations sailing in close formation alongside an American amphibious assault ship. This configuration, unprecedented in its multinational balance, involved HMS Prince of Wales (United Kingdom), USS George Washington (United States), and JS Kaga (Japan), escorted by USS America (American amphibious assault ship) and supported by a substantial aerial component and allied vessels.
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HMS Prince of Wales, USS George Washington, JS Kaga, and USS America sail in formation during a multinational naval exercise in the Philippine Sea on August 10, 2025, alongside allied escort ships and aircraft (Picture source: British Navy)

HMS Prince of Wales, a British aircraft carrier of the Queen Elizabeth class, is designed to operate F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft as well as a wide range of support helicopters. USS George Washington, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class, embarks Carrier Air Wing 5, which includes multirole F/A-18E/F fighters, E-2D airborne early warning aircraft, and EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft. JS Kaga, a Japanese helicopter carrier of the Izumo class currently being converted to operate F-35B aircraft, reflects the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s evolving capability toward a broader fixed-wing air power role.

Alongside them, USS America, an America-class amphibious assault ship, is configured for deploying landing forces and STOVL aircraft such as the F-35B and MV-22 Osprey. The escort also includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (Ticonderoga class), equipped with the Aegis system and specialized in area air defense, as well as the guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (Arleigh Burke class), capable of anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface warfare. Norwegian, Spanish, and Australian naval units contribute with modern frigates and destroyers integrated into the task force’s protection and logistical support.

The training conducted during this maneuver covers a broad range of operations. These include coordinated anti-submarine warfare between ships and aircraft, cross-deck flight operations allowing British and American F-35B fighters to operate from JS Kaga, and interoperable refueling and aircraft maintenance procedures across fleets. These activities test the participating navies’ ability to exchange tactical data in real time via secure networks, harmonize flight deck and aviation operations procedures, and integrate detection and strike capabilities in a multi-domain threat environment.

The use of the F-35 as a common platform highlights this interoperability. Equipped with advanced sensor fusion and networked data-sharing capabilities, the aircraft can relay targeting information in real time to the entire naval group. Its deployment across multiple allied platforms enables the synchronization of air operations regardless of national origin, shortening reaction times and enhancing resilience in the face of threats.

Beyond the technical dimension, exercise carries clear strategic weight in the Indo-Pacific context. For the AUKUS members, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, it demonstrates a shared commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation and deterring any attempt to alter the regional balance. The inclusion of close partners such as Japan, Norway, and Spain reinforces the political and military message to all regional actors: these forces can assemble rapidly, operate in coordination, and sustain their presence in an area where strategic tensions remain high.

Scheduled for over nine days and set to conclude on August 12, the exercise demonstrates two key capacities: the ability to coordinate in real time assets originating from different doctrines, combat systems, and operational cultures, and the ability to project a credible and responsive force into a strategic region. In this specific format, three aircraft carriers from three nations operating in full synchronization, supported by a multinational network of air defense, anti-submarine, and amphibious capabilities, it represent a rare and highly symbolic instance of collective naval power.