The British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will call at Gibraltar during its current three-month deployment, during which it is carrying out various training and operational readiness activities. To mark its visit, British Forces Gibraltar have announced an open day next Sunday, October 25, giving residents of the Rock access to the ship and the opportunity to see some of its facilities.
The initiative, announced on Monday, October 19, is part of the activities organised by the Royal Navy to maintain contact with the Gibraltarian community during calls by its naval units. The commander of British Forces Gibraltar, Rear Admiral Tim Davey, said the event would allow visitors to meet members of the crew and learn about the aircraft carrier's operational capabilities, as well as maintain the historic ties between the British Navy and Gibraltar.
The HMS Queen Elizabeth, with a displacement of 65,000 tonnes, is heading to Gibraltar after leaving the port of Belfast on October 12. The ship spent five days in the capital of Northern Ireland, where it made the first port call by a British aircraft carrier in 61 years.
The current campaign began on September 5, when the aircraft carrier sailed from its naval base in Portsmouth to begin a training and readiness programme that will continue over the coming months. Its main tasks include serving as the floating command platform for NATO's Allied Reaction Force (Allied Reaction Force, ARF).
This assignment marks the first time an aircraft carrier of the Queen Elizabeth class has led this high-readiness maritime reaction force of the Atlantic Alliance, which is incorporated into its response mechanisms for various operational situations.
During the deployment, the ship is taking part in advanced warfare training activities under the supervision of the Royal Navy's Fleet Operational Standards and Training (Fleet Operational Standards and Training, FOST) organisation. The programme includes, among other activities, the integration of Chinook helicopters and the development of capabilities involving unmanned technologies and autonomous systems.
Readiness activities will continue throughout 2027 and will include a series of multinational exercises with naval forces from NATO allies and partners.
According to the schedule announced by British Forces Gibraltar, the HMS Queen Elizabeth is expected to resume its role as a high-readiness strike carrier and flagship of the United Kingdom's fleet at the end of 2027.
