£52m Contracts Placed For Navy's New Aircraft Carriers

The MoD has announced that sub-contracts worth over £52M for a wide range of equipment for the two Queen Elizabeth Class Future Aircraft Carriers have been placed, helping to secure jobs and sustain work for industry across the UK.

"As well as the everyday essentials such as washing machines and TVs that will make the ship's company comfortable onboard, the contracts announced today provide for some of the highly sophisticated equipment that will make these ships fit for the Royal Navy of the 21st century.

"With construction well under way and the first units of the pre-fabricated units having arrived at the dockyard in Rosyth where they will be assembled, the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are beginning to take shape."

Tony Graham, Head of Capital Ships within MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support, said: "The vast majority of Queen Elizabeth Class supply contracts have now been placed. These latest orders begin to close out the few remaining supply agreements needed to finish HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince Of Wales. Our supply chain stretches the length and breadth of the UK, and as such we recognise that the build of these two important warships is a national endeavour of great consequence for jobs, skills and local pride."

The two future aircraft carriers will carry out a whole range of operations from high-intensity fighting to support to humanitarian relief.

Over £700M worth of equipment and materials are already on contract for the two ships and construction work is underway in Glasgow, Rosyth and Appledore (Devon). This will expand further in the coming months as involvement grows across the UK. Sections of the flight deck called the sponsons were delivered to Babcock's Rosyth dockyard from Appledore in Devon, at the end of August.

(GK/KMcA)