The UK is preparing an aircraft carrier for possible deployment to the Middle East as the conflict with Iran intensifies and criticism mounts over Britain’s military response.
HMS Prince of Wales could be moved to a higher state of readiness, with the notice period to deploy reduced from ten days to just five, according to reports.
Crew members have also been alerted about the potential mission in the wake of the war between the US, Israel and Iran, a source told Sky News.
The move would allow the Government to respond more quickly should Sir Keir Starmer decide to send the carrier strike group to bolster Britain’s defences in the Gulf or around Cyprus.
HMS Prince of Wales is currently docked in Portsmouth, undergoing repairs and maintenance.
The £3billion warship carries F-35 fighter jets and would deploy alongside an escort of other vessels and a submarine if sent to the region.
‘We have been bolstering our UK military presence in the Middle East since January, and we have already deployed capabilities to protect British people and our allies in the region, including Typhoons, F-35 jets, air defence systems and an extra 400 personnel into Cyprus.
‘Since the strikes began, we’ve had British jets in the sky shooting down drowns and have sent additional assets to the region to further reinforce our air defences, including more Typhoons and Wildcat helicopters with drone busting missiles.
‘HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment.’
The development comes as the head of Britain’s armed forces rejected criticism that the military was ill-prepared for the escalating crisis.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the Chief of the Defence Staff, said Britain now faces ‘probably the most dangerous period’ in decades.
‘What the Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary have made clear, and what is very clear to me, is that this is probably the most dangerous period in the last 30-odd years that I’ve been in uniform,’ he said.
‘The demands on defence are rising.’
He said HMS Dragon, the warship being readied to depart for the region after a drone hit a UK base on Cyprus, was in maintenance until this week.
He also dismissed that cuts to the military over the years have slowed down the UK’s response and signalled that the UK could join more proactive strikes in future after Sir Keir Starmer granted permission for ‘defensive’ US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases.
Sir Richard said ‘I completely reject that criticism’ when asked about commentary that the UK military had been ill prepared when Israel and the US launched strikes a week ago.
‘When the war started on Saturday, it became clear over the next 48 hours that Iran’s response was going to be far broader and more reckless compared to what we saw in the 12-day war last summer,’ Sir Richard said.
‘We also assessed that a drone had been launched from Lebanon by an Iranian-aligned group targeting Cyprus.
‘So, on Sunday and Monday, we assessed our options and looked at what the risks were in response to that much broader and reckless action by Iran.’
Asked if that was a bit late, he said: ‘I completely disagree’, adding that ‘our posture had been built up over several weeks’.
Britain has been criticised by allies over its response to the crisis, particularly over the defence of Cyprus, where a UK base was struck by a drone earlier this week.
Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week while France and Greece have already deployed military assets to defend the island.
‘HMS Dragon was in maintenance until this week.
‘I’m enormously proud of the work of the Royal Navy – they’ve been working night and day to get that ship ready, get the ammunition on board, get the stores on board, and bring it out of its maintenance state so it’s ready to go within the next few days,’ Sir Richard said.
He said HMS Dragon would depart in the next few days and then it would take ‘a number of days’ to transit through the Atlantic, through the Strait of Gibraltar, and across the Mediterranean.
Sir Richard said the delay was ‘not at all’ down to cuts to the military over the years, saying HMS Dragon was in ‘routine maintenance’.
Military planners have been working to prepare for such a crisis ‘over many years’, he said.
He signalled that the UK could join more proactive strikes in future, while stressing that the current mission is to protect the interests of UK and regional partners.
‘But these campaigns and conflicts evolve over time, and we will keep all options under review. Right now, my focus is on protecting our interests and our people right across the region.’
An American bomber capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening.
Sir Richard said: ‘We saw overnight the first US bombers arrive at RAF Gloucester, and I would expect missions to be launched from there within the next few days.’
