UK Warships Sail with South Korean Fleet in Show of Force

As of September 9th, 2025, three of the UK's most important warships are sailing side-by-side with several South Korean military vessels in the Indo-Pacific region. The British vessels, including the flagship HMS Prince of Wales, destroyer HMS Dauntless, and frigate HMS Richmond, are traversing the waters alongside ROKS Soyang, ROKS Kang Gam Chan, and ROKS Nampo as part of Operation Highmast.

This months-long exercise, which began in April 2025, has seen the UK Carrier Strike Group sail across the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Indian Ocean, visiting Singapore and Australia. The mission now shifts its focus to Asia, with the Royal Navy reaffirming the UK's commitment to security in the region.

In a historic first for Britain's Senior Service, the Royal Navy recently carried out its inaugural ship-to-ship delivery of supplies using an aerial drone. The space-aged Malloy T-150 octo-copter flew autonomously from the HMS Prince of Wales to the HMS Dauntless, showcasing the military's push to expand the use of unmanned drones for critical logistics.

Over the course of the 8-month deployment, more than 4,500 British troops, including nearly 600 RAF personnel and 900 soldiers, will be sent across the world alongside 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines. The British-led taskforce is expected to return to the UK in December 2025.