English: Pictured are F-35B Lightning Jets embarked on HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first Carrier Sea Training.

Pilots, engineers, cyberspace and mission support staff from 617 Squadron, the UK’s operational strike squadron, embarked the carrier during a quick stop in Portsmouth for supplies before the aircraft themselves landed on board.

The event marked the first time 617 Squadron – famously known as the Dambusters –fully joined HMS Queen Elizabeth as the UK prepared to deploy the next generation squadron of fighter aircraft to operate from the sea.

The F-35 jets that landed on board will be the same aircraft that will sail in 2021 with the ship for her maiden Global Carrier Strike Group 21 deployment.

• Organization: Royal Navy
• Object Name: AX200029
• Keywords: NAS, Lightning, Flight Operations, Flight Deck, Surface Fleet, Dambusters, Carrier Sea Training, Carrier Strike Group, CSG, F35-B Lightning Jets, FOST, Operational Sea Training, Royal Navy, Equipment, Carrier, CVF, Queen Elizabeth Class, QE Class, HMS Queen Elizabeth, R08, Royal Air Force, RAF, Aircraft, Combat, F-35B, Lightning II, Joint Strike Fighter, JSF, Squadron, Sqn, Offensive Support, 617 Squadron, 617 Sqn, Fleet Air Arm, FAA, Naval Air Squadrons, F-35B Lightning II Squadron, Fixed Wing, 5th Gen, Multi-Role, Short Take-off and Vertical-Landing, STOVL, Lockheed Martin F-35
• Country: At Sea