Feature 1 | AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
£3 billion contracts signed for UK’s largest
ever warships
Contracts to build two aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy, the largest and
most potent warships to be designed and built in the UK, were signed by
the Ministry of Defence and industry on 3 July.
he contracts - worth in the
region of £3 billion - were signed
Twith a new UK maritime joint
venture, formed by BAE Systems and VT
Group, called BVT Surface Fleet, and the
Aircraft Carrier Alliance, onboard the
fl eet fl agship HMS Ark Royal.
The future aircraft carriers (or
‘CVFs’), to be named HMS Queen
Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, will
dramatically improve the UK’s ability
to project expeditionary air power over
the coming decades and will be a highly
versatile and potent joint defence asset,
able to meet the widest range of tasks.
The carriers are expected to enter
service in 2014 and 2016 respectively;
once they enter service they are
expected to remain in the fleet for at
least 30 years. Contracts worth around £3 billion have been signed for the manufacturing phase of the
UK Defence Secretary, Des Browne, UK Royal Navy’s future aircraft carrier programme, or ‘CVF’
said: ‘This is a historic day. The two
aircraft carriers will provide our forces
with the world-class capabilities they
•
£1,325 million for the construction of support of the full range of future
will need over the coming decades. giant sections of both ships by BVT operations at sea, in the air and on
They will support peace-keeping and Surface Fleet at Govan on the Clyde land,’ said the First Sea Lord, Admiral
conflict prevention, as well as our and Portsmouth. Sir Jonathon Band.
strategic operational priorities. Today’s
•
£300 million for the construction of The carriers will displace
contract signing seals the future for giant sections of the ships at the BAE 65,000tonnes at deep load, be around
thousands of jobs, and ensures that Systems yard at Barrow-in-Furness. 280m long with a breadth of 70m on
we will have a Royal Navy fit for the
•
£675 million for the bow section and the flight deck, accommodate around
21st century.’ final assembly and completion of 1500 personnel and operate a mix of
Baroness Taylor, Minister for Defence the ships by Babcock Marine, with up to 40 aircraft.
Equipment and Support, added: ‘This assembly taking place at Rosyth. BVT Surface Fleet, a joint venture
is truly a national project, involving
•
£425 million for design and formed by BAE Systems and VT Group
companies from the Clyde to the engineering for Thales UK. on 1 July 2008 will be a key member
Solent. Construction work will create
•
£275 million for design and of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance of
or sustain around 10,000 UK jobs at supply of Mission Systems for companies which will construct and
the peak of production. I am delighted BAE Systems Integrated Systems assemble the new carriers. Other
that we have signed the contracts for Technologies (Insyte). members of the Alliance include
manufacture today and I look forward Babcock, Thales UK, BAE Systems
to first cutting of steel for this exciting ‘These ships, with their embarked Submarine Solutions at Barrow and
project later this year.’ aircraft, will provide the UK with a BAE Systems Integrated System
The contracts authorised in early July potent and powerful aircraft carrier Technologies (Insyte). All parties
encompass work worth: force that will deliver air power in have signed a legally binding Alliance
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