Royal Navy
- The UK's newest aircraft carrier conducted a series of tests off the US East Coast in October.
- The tests saw several firsts for the carrier, including the first launch of a fully loaded F-35B.
- The US and UK have worked together closely to expand the capabilities of the UK's new carriers.
At the end of October, the Royal Navy took its naval aviation capabilities to the next level by launching a fully loaded F-35B from the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales for the first time.
The F-35B took off in "beast mode," a configuration in which its internal weapons bays and external pylons are all fully loaded with missiles or bombs. "Beast mode" sacrifices an F-35's stealth for increased firepower, as externally mounted munitions increase the aircraft's radar signature.