British Flex Some International Muscle: "Orion 08"

The Royal Navy fleet may be shrinking, but they still know how to put together a strike group. The following ships will be contributing to the Royal Navy "Orion 08" deployment:

HMS Illustrious (R06)
HMS Edinburgh (D97)
HMS Westminster (F237)
HMS Trafalgar (S107)
HMS Atherstone (M38)
HMS Chiddingfold (M37)
RFA Wave Knight (A389)
USS Cole (DDG 67)
FS Jean Bart (D615)
FS Surcouf (F 711)
SPS Mendez Nunez (F104)

I do not have good information regarding the aircraft that will be deployed on HMS Illustrious (R06), there was a lot of speculation following exercises in December that both British and Spanish harriers would be on for the tour.

That is an impressive international strike group.