Manufacture of Royal Navy’s New Carriers Begins
Earlier this week, construction began on the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, with Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal performing the initial steel-cutting for the first of the ships.
The steel-cutting ceremony took place at BVT Surface Fleet’s shipyard in Govan, on Tuesday 7 July 2009.
The Queen Elizabeth (QE) Class carriers, together with the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and the brand new Type 45 destroyers, will form the cornerstone of Britain’s future ability to jointly project airpower worldwide from land or sea at a time and place of the UK’s choosing.
Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies said:
“The MOD is committed to ensuring the UK’s Armed Forces are modern, versatile and well equipped for present and future operations. The versatility of the design together with the long service life of these ships will ensure that we will be able to deal with the uncertainties of the future for years to come, and they will deliver the support to deployed UK forces around the globe.
“It is an honour to mark this historic moment with Her Royal Highness here in Govan. We also must not forget the ongoing work of legions of people in industry in regions across the country who are all delivering vital elements of this truly national project.”
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said:
“The QE Class, together with the supporting aircraft forming the Carrier Strike, represent a step change in Defence’s capability, enabling Britain to deliver airpower from the sea wherever and whenever it is required. This strategic effect, influence and, where necessary, direct action will give us an unprecedented range of options to deal with the challenges of an uncertain world at a time and place of our choosing.
“These ships are not just spare airfields, they are an instrument of national power: the ‘big stick’ which can be waved by the Government in areas of strategic interest to influence, coerce and deter.”
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