Royal Navy chiefs have been left celebrating after the Government agreed to send a £3.5billion aircraft carrier to the Middle East.
The British military are concentrating efforts on the Red Sea after the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group said it would intensify "self-defence" attacks on any US and British warships.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin urged MPs to use one of its £3.5billion aircraft carriers at the start of the Red Sea crisis in October.
The Chief of the Defence Staff was overruled as the Government instead decided to send RAF Typhoons based in Cyprus.
The Royal Navy could send an aircraft carrier to the Middle East
GETTY
Naval officers warned the RAF's contribution was a "token" and "not-sustainable".
The previous situation forced the US to almost single-handedly conduct air strikes on Houthi rebels.
Houthis control the most populous parts of Yemen and have been attacking ships in and around the Red Sea.
The group claim it is acting in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel's war with Hamas rages on.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Houthi fighters have been targeting ships in the Red Sea since November 2023REUTERSAttacks by Houthi rebels on international shipping vessels have threatened to wreak havoc for supply chains.
An official Navy source told The Daily Mail: "The carriers have proved they can operate on their own and with our US allies.
"What that would look like in terms of combining assets with the US will be being considered."
However, concerns still linger about whether the Royal Navy's flagship will require US support.
Minister of State for the Armed Forces James Stephen HeappeyPAOfficers have suggested the UK will need Airborne Early Warning systems.
It could also require the refueling of HMS Queen Elizabeth's fleet of F-35B stealth jets.
Insiders have also expressed concerns about Britain's main weapon system Paveway IV.
Armed Forces Minister James Heappey had suggested the UK could provide an aircraft carrier to replace the USS Dwight D Eisenhower.
However, sources have claimed that Washington might have already assigned a replacement carrier.