Operation Highmast Planning

Op Highmast, where to begin! Although the deployment started at the end of April 2026, the journey and work up for the Squadron began far earlier. I joined the Squadron as the Executive Officer in Aug 2023, and at that time, the focus for the unit was already on the deployment.

Working groups and planning sessions were scheduled and around a year prior to leaving the wall, the work started in earnest. There are always many unknowns during the planning phase, what to train for, which course do people need to do, what uniform and equipment do we need, what medical standards are required, etc etc all of which are worked through methodically, however despite your best efforts, you never feel fully prepared.

There is of course, only one way to find out, and that is to deploy.

Deployment

Which we did, on April 22nd 2025, HMS Prince of Wales with 617 Squadron embarked, left the wall in Portsmouth not to return for over 7 months. Over the next few days, the jets arrived, eighteen, from both 617 Squadron and 809 Naval Air Squadron and then we got straight to it.

Carrier qualifications for the pilots, many of which were new, day and night, exercise flying with the Italian Navy and preparation for the Red Sea.

After a port stop in Souda Bay, during which 617 Sqn drank all of 809 NAS’s beer, we pressed South through the Red Sea. Given the situation there at the time, we were required to fly or be on alert for 24 hours a day. A highly rewarding time for the teams.

Then into the Indian Ocean during the storm season which led to a high-profile trip to India for 1 lucky pilot… Singapore Slings at the next port call, then onwards to Australia for Ex Talisman Sabre with the RAAF and USN. We enjoyed operating in free airspace larger than the entire UK with a lot of talented allied aircrew! Northward bound through the Pacific, a quick hop over to the Japanese Ship Kaga for the first British jet aircraft landing on a Japanese ship, then alongside in Tokyo. Here we spent time with family and friends who

flew out at the halfway point which was incredible after so much time apart.

Homeward Bound

After 3 weeks in Japan, we left for the homeward leg. South China Sea first, then back to Singapore for another sling or two! Indian Ocean, but we kept all our aircraft this time, then India for a port visit. Incredible place to see, and some great socialising and flying with the Indian Navy and Air Force. On leaving India then route home was the same as the way out, we briefly increased to 24 aircraft for an exercise which was great to see, and even had the Italian Navy operate with us for a week. We finished with a quick stop in Italy and Gibraltar for more R+R before we finally rounded the corner of Gib and headed home.

Overall, a fantastic experience, a cruise flying fighter jets with your best friends to other side of the world and back – and we got paid for it!

By Lt Cdr Joe Mason, XO 617 Squadron

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0