[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] The Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier Arriving in Autumn Is

Photo by Monthly Defense Times

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The UK's latest aircraft carrier, the Queen Elizabeth (65,000-ton class), will officially visit South Korea in the second half of this year. This visit is expected to mark the beginning of full-scale cooperation between the two countries regarding South Korea's plan to build a 30,000-ton class light aircraft carrier.

According to foreign media including The Times of the UK, on the 25th (local time), the carrier strike group (CSG) led by the Queen Elizabeth is reported to embark on a tour next month to South Korea, Japan, India, and Singapore.

Although both South Korea and the UK have stated that the carrier strike group's visit aims to enhance defense cooperation and friendly exchanges, it is analyzed as an expression of interest in South Korea's acquisition of a light aircraft carrier. The UK is known to have a keen interest in South Korea's light aircraft carrier construction plan and hopes to establish partnerships involving technology cooperation and operational personnel training. South Korea plans to build the light aircraft carrier as a "flat deck" type, and technologies such as deck materials that can withstand the high heat generated by vertical takeoff and landing fighters like the F-35B, as well as the deck shape suitable for fighter takeoff and landing, are crucial. The UK can provide these technologies. In this regard, British media reported that Babcock, BAE Systems, Thales, and others, who jointly developed the advanced systems and design for the Queen Elizabeth's construction, have proposed these to South Korea.

During the tour, the Queen Elizabeth is expected to conduct joint exercises with the United States, Japan, and others in the Western Pacific and South China Sea.

The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, classified as large aircraft carriers, consist of two ships. The first was commissioned in 2017 and the second in 2019. They are 280 meters long and were built at a cost of ?3.1 billion (approximately 4.8045 trillion KRW). The propulsion system of the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers is the integrated electric propulsion type MT-30 series, capable of a maximum speed of 27 knots. The crew consists of 1,279 personnel, with an additional 95 fleet command staff on board.

It is reported that eight F-35B aircraft will be embarked during this tour. The F-35B carrier-based fighters can carry and operate up to 40 aircraft, but normally carry 30 aircraft and 10 Merlin HM.2 helicopters. Operating 40 F-35Bs corresponds to a scale applied in actual combat missions, while 30 aircraft are used for routine cruising training. The carrier strike group consists of the Queen Elizabeth, six other warships, one submarine equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, and 14 helicopters. Additionally, one company of marines will accompany the group.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.