MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

First production contract for Royal Navy's new carriers

Artist impression of future Carrier (RN)

Britain awarded this week the first contract for the new equipment that will be fitted to the 65,000 tonne aircraft carriers Ministry of Defence has announced it is to order.

The equipment, advanced Identification Friend or Foe electronics that will help protect the ships and their aircraft, is to be designed and manufactured by SELEX Communications. This contract, initially worth over £1M, was awarded following competition. "Today's announcement is another milestone for the Future Aircraft Carrier programme. We plan to award further contracts for the production of equipment for these ships over the coming months as the shipyards begin their preparations for the start of construction work. Beyond this first equipment order, UK and France are cooperating closely in a number of key areas, and are exploring future joint procurement opportunities, notably for Power and Propulsion and some key aspects of the Mission System", said Lord Drayson, Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, "This is a very exciting time for everybody in the MoD and in industry who are working on this project. We intend that the production of these ships will transform both the Royal Navy's capabilities and Britain's maritime industrial base over the coming years." The IFF equipment ordered this week will ensure that commanders on the new carriers will be able to distinguish between friendly and hostile aircraft in complex and stressing combat scenarios. The equipment will be delivered in time to be fitted to the ships before they go into service later in the next decade. The green light for the construction of Royal Navy's aircraft carriers Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales was announced by the UK Defence Secretary Des Browne in July 2007. They will be the largest ships ever constructed for the Royal Navy and will carry an air group of around 40 jet fighters and helicopters. In the manufacture phase, the Aircraft Carrier Alliance members will be the Joint Venture (BAES/VT) Babcock, BAE Systems (Marine & Insyte), Thales UK and the MOD (which acts as both partner and client). The ships are to be constructed at the Alliance yards in Portsmouth and Glasgow Barrow and Rosyth. At its peak the programme is expected to support around 10,000 jobs across British industry.