Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • HMS Queen Elizabeth makes historic first visit to Canada

Defence

HMS Queen Elizabeth makes historic first visit to Canada

The UK’s new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, last Thursday morning in an historic first visit.


Courtesy Royal Navy

The 65,000-tonne warship, the biggest ever built for the Royal Navy, will be joined in harbour by other ships from the UK Carrier Strike Group who are on a deployment called ‘Westlant 19’. The main purpose of the deployment is to conduct Operational Tests with UK F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter jets for the first time, off the east coast of the USA.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

The carrier has made Canada her first port of call, since crossing the Atlantic from her home port of Portsmouth, in a demonstration of the high regard in which the UK holds its close relationship with its fellow Commonwealth nation.

Welcoming the carrier as she prepares to anchor south-east of George’s Island in Halifax Harbour, Commander of the Maritime Forces Atlantic (COMMARLANT), Rear Admiral Craig Baines, Royal Canadian Navy said: “The Royal Canadian Navy and the sailors of Maritime Forces Atlantic are pleased to welcome and host one of our oldest allies to our home station of Halifax. We recognise that our city has a unique place in the heart of the Royal Navy and this week’s visit represents a meeting of the old and the new – emphasising the Royal Navy’s historical ties to one of Canada’s oldest ports and providing the opportunity for the Royal Navy to showcase their newest capability.

“Our Navies have been operating side-by-side for over a hundred years and this visit highlights our unique relationship as well as our continued cooperation and interoperability.”

The HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group includes destroyer HMS Dragon and the tanker RFA Tideforce, both of whom also arrive in Halifax today. They will be joined when they return to sea, by frigate HMS Northumberland which is currently taking part in Exercise Cutlass Fury, a Canadian forces-led multi-national, joint maritime exercise designed to promote and enhance regional cooperation in the Atlantic, involving 20 ships and 36 aircraft.

Advertisement
ODU RT

                  

Advertisement
PTC PTC
Boeing appoints Stephen Parker as CEO of BDS

Defence Security Space

Boeing appoints Stephen Parker as CEO of BDS

3 July 2025

Boeing today announced Stephen (Steve) Parker as president and chief executive officer of its Defense, Space & Security (BDS) business, effective immediately. Parker has served as interim leader of the Boeing business unit since September 2024.

Lancashire aims at advancing cyber-enabled defence and security

Defence Security Events

Lancashire aims at advancing cyber-enabled defence and security

3 July 2025

Over 200 senior business leaders, investors, policymakers and academics from across the UK gathered this week at the Lancashire Cyber Festival to discuss Lancashire’s opportunity to become a global leader in cyber-enabled defence and security.

Airframe Designs aligns with US NCAMP standards

Aerospace Defence Security

Airframe Designs aligns with US NCAMP standards

3 July 2025

Airframe Designs has aligned its material systems with the US National Centre for Advanced Materials Performance (NCAMP) which works with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry partners to support its existing testing processes.

Bernd Kögel to spearhead launch of DSEI Germany

Defence Security Events

Bernd Kögel to spearhead launch of DSEI Germany

3 July 2025

Clarion Events Defence and Security has announced the appointment of Colonel (ret) Bernd Kögel as Managing Director of DSEI Germany, effective 1st October 2025.

Advertisement
Gulfstream RT
Raytheon UK recieves Gold Employee Recognition Scheme award

Defence Events

Raytheon UK recieves Gold Employee Recognition Scheme award

3 July 2025

Raytheon UK has been awarded the Gold Employee Recognition Scheme award by the Ministry of Defence, in recognition of Raytheon UK’s ongoing commitment to the armed forces community and their support for the Armed Forces Covenant.

Industry delivers UK defence dividend

Defence

Industry delivers UK defence dividend

2 July 2025

Research by Oxford Economics has revealed that the UK Government’s ambition to deliver a 'defence dividend' is already taking effect, with the nation’s biggest defence company, BAE Systems, contributing £13.7 billion to national GDP in 2024, accounting for one in every £200 of the country’s economic output.

Advertisement
Leonardo RT