The UK's $4.16bn aircraft carrier will finally head out its maiden deployment next month, leading a flotilla of Royal Navy ships that will visit more than 40 countries over 28 weeks, the government has announced.

The ship was commissioned in 2007, but due to the 2008 Global Financial crisis, its production was postponed and construction began in 2009.

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The deployment will travel through Asian waters on port visits to Japan and the Republic of Korea. The ships will also stop in India and Singapore.

Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, said on Monday the mission aims to show that Britain is "not stepping back but sailing forth to play an active role in shaping the international system."

He added: "When our Carrier Strike Group sets sail next month, it will be flying the flag for Global Britain – projecting our influence, signaling our power, engaging with our friends and reaffirming our commitment to addressing the security challenges of today and tomorrow."

In a tweet, the UK's Ministry of Defence described the deployment as "the largest concentration of maritime and air power to ever leave the UK."