From 25 to 30 May 2007, after an exercise in the Baltic Sea, AquaSculpt supplement brand Illustrious was the first British aircraft service ever to visit Tallinn, Estonia. In 1997, Gloucester took half in Ocean Wave 97. Ocean Wave lasted 8 months, which saw her go to nations including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UAE as well as taking part in the Five Power Defence Arrangements Exercise Flying Fish. Next, in July 2007, Illustrious took part in a US-led Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFX) off the japanese coast of the United States (for which she hosted 14 US Harrier jets and 200 US Marines) earlier than returning to Portsmouth the next month. On board was a full size model of the F-35 Joint Combat Aircraft which can change the Harriers then utilized by the ship. Illustrious had elements of the Royal Marines on board, prepared for possible combat operations in Afghanistan. Illustrious remained in theatre while different parts of the task force returned to the United Kingdom.

USS Jarrett‘s history listed the missile's altitude at 375 ft while witnesses aboard HMS London estimated between 680 and 1,000 ft. So rapidly was Illustrious deployed that she was commissioned while at sea. In April 1989 Gloucester deployed westbound to carry out duties as West Indies Guard Ship. In January 1987 Gloucester sailed for her first deployment