The hull number R08 belongs to HMS Queen Elizabeth, the lead ship of the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. When you see F-35B Lightning II fighter jets on a flight deck with that hull number, it means they are operating from the UK’s flagship carrier.
The F-35B is the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant, designed for carriers without catapults or arrestor wires. The HMS Queen Elizabeth and her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, were built specifically to support this aircraft. The F-35B can take off from the carrier’s ski-jump ramp and land vertically, making it well-suited for the Royal Navy’s operations.
The sight of F-35Bs on HMS Queen Elizabeth marks a major capability leap for the UK. Together, the ship and aircraft form a carrier strike group able to project power worldwide. This combination has already been deployed, including operational missions in the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific.
Would you like me to write you a descriptive caption for a photo of that scene, or a full 400–500 word article describing HMS Queen Elizabeth with her F-35Bs?
