Named carrier allocation
| Carrier | Entry | Normal command relationship | Wing establishment in 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMSCS New Zealand | 2005 | Eastern Fleet anchor, Sydney | 96 |
| HMSCS Pacific | 2012 | Western Fleet anchor, Fremantle | 96 |
| HMSCS Southern Cross | 2019 | National rotation pool; either fleet | 96 |
Assignments change with refit and operational requirements. A carrier in the rotation pool is a commissioned ship with a crew and air wing; it is not a fourth deployed group. One replacement hull programme and one succeeding design/early-production programme continue behind the three-ship force.
Group composition
A normal deployed group centres on one carrier, two nuclear missile cruisers, conventional anti-submarine and air-defence escorts, an assigned nuclear attack submarine and replenishment support. Additional cruisers, submarines or amphibious vessels join according to the mission. Those escorts are drawn from fleet establishments, not counted again as extra ships.
Embarked aviation
| Air-wing role | 1980 large-carrier plan | 2020 Federation-class plan |
|---|---|---|
| F-111N fleet defence and maritime strike | 24 | 24 |
| FB-111N heavy and general maritime strike | 16 | 24 |
| RF-111N reconnaissance | 4 | 8 |
| EF-111N electronic attack | 4 | 8 |
| Airborne early warning | 8 | 8 |
| Anti-submarine rotary-wing support | 8 | 12 |
| Utility, rescue and liaison aircraft | 8 | 12 |
| Total across all types | 72 | 96 |
These are planning establishments; temporary detachments, refits and serviceability change embarkation. Dated carriers, naval engineering and aircraft operating weights govern compatibility. The four Naval Wing roles retain their existing 1980, 1985, 1995 and 2003 development blocks.
Rotation and construction
Two groups normally operate at sea while the third rests, trains or refits. Crew recovery, docking, reactor maintenance and air-wing readiness set the schedule. The construction pipeline sustains future availability and replacement rather than claiming that two unfinished carriers already form fighting fleets.