English: An aerial view of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) as she conducts vital system tests off the coast of Scotland on 28 June 2017.
Original caption: HMS Queen Elizabeth left Rosyth, where she has been under construction since 2014, to conduct sea trials. Type 23 frigates Sutherland and Iron Duke joined the 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier, along with Merlin Mk2 helicopters of the Fleet Air Arm, to guard the seas as the trials get under way. The Queen Elizabeth-class carriers are the biggest warships ever built for the Royal Navy - four acres of sovereign territory, deployable across the globe to serve the United Kingdom on operations for 50 years. HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will be the most advanced warships in the Royal Navy fleet. They are the future flagships of the nation. Initially the ships will carry helicopters. The vast flight deck and hangar can accommodate any helicopter in Britain’s military inventory.From 2020, however, our punch will be delivered by the F-35 Lightning II, the world’s most advanced stealth fighter-bomber.