queen class aircraft carrier queen elizabeth class class currently construction royal_navy hms queen elizabeth named july ship commissioning planned initial operating capability expected second hms prince wales scheduled launched followed commissioning service september nato wales summit prime minister announced second carrier brought service ending years uncertainty surrounding future contract vessels announced july secretary state defence ending years delay cost issues british naval restructuring contracts signed year later july creation merger requirement vessels currently displacement approximately tonnes long tons design growth lifetime ships ships metres long tailored air group aircraft capable carrying load largest warships constructed royal_navy projected cost programme billion carriers completed originally planned short vertical landing configuration deploying lockheed martin following strategic defence security review british government intended purchase carrier version aircraft adopted plans prince wales built barrier arrested recovery configuration projected costs system rose twice original estimate government announced revert original design background strategic defence review newly elected labour government launched evaluated weapon system active exception vanguard class missile submarines report published july identified aircraft carriers offer following ability operate offensive aircraft abroad foreign basing denied required space infrastructure foreign bases available available early conflict infrastructure lacking effect deployed trouble spot report concluded emphasis increased offensive air power ability operate largest possible range aircraft widest possible range roles current carrier force reaches end planned life plan replace larger vessels work begin requirements present thinking suggests order tonnes capable deploying aircraft including helicopters design studies vessels described media legislators royal_navy displace approximately long tons times displacement predecessor invincible class largest warships built united_kingdom large carriers proposed royal_navy programme cancelled labour government november giving evidence sea lord admiral sir explained sortie rate united_states_navy factors deciding size carriers composition carriers air wings reason arrived arrived initial strike package deep strike package detailed calculations come figure joint strike fighters driven size able deliver weight effort need operations planning future thing arrive size deck size ship enable happen think like sorties day day period like talked chief naval operations america keen sees carrier groups example afghanistan year french bail carrier wants wants sort carriers figure find useful mix match january companies invited tender assessment phase project boeing november awarded detailed assessment studies led renamed november led renamed brief required designs consortium air groups thirty future joint combat aircraft contracts split phases million phase design assessment form aircraft selection second million phase involved risk reduction preferred carrier design option aircraft carrier format selection january signed memorandum understanding participation joint strike fighter programme confirming gave input aircraft design choice lockheed boeing october announced won contract september announced royal_navy royal_air_force operate variant announced carriers form large conventional carriers initially adapted operations carriers expected remain service years designed wires carriers planned future proof allowing operate generation aircraft months later january defence secretary announced design won competition operate prime contractor secretary state defence announced contract vessels cost initially estimated billion contracts officially signed year later july creation merger requirement time approval carrier expected enter service july budget ships financial crisis led decision december slow production delaying ship second years decision added cost march budget estimated taking cost capital led capital del cost time carriers abandoned cancelled planned spending planned spending prince wales loss exemption meant carriers overall saved respectively long term savings important short term costs nearly extra expenditure cancellation costs budget november contract budget agreeing pay cost previously august speculation mounted drop model meant carriers built operate conventional landing aircraft designed electromagnetic aircraft launch system strategic defence security review october government announced results strategic defence security review review stated carrier certain commissioned fate left second ship class placed extended readiness provide continuous single carrier strike capability refit provide option quickly carrier strike ability alternatively second ship sold cooperation close ally provide continuous carrier strike capability announced operational carrier catapult gear installed accommodate carrier variant joint strike fighter short vertical landing version decision convert prince wales reviewed projected costs rose double original estimate defence secretary announced parliament government decided revert predecessor plans purchase complete aircraft carriers ski jumps configuration total cost work conversion configuration design original configuration estimated order million later testimony parliamentary committee chief revealed carriers sold easy convert effort direction strategic defence security review november government published strategic defence security review confirmed plans bring service aircraft carriers available times review confirmed carriers enhanced amphibious capabilities government reaffirmed commitment ordering lightning specific variant mentioned review stated aircraft available aircraft carriers design general characteristics ships company rising air element added recent parliamentary reply stated average crew size displacement tonnes delivery design allows reach tonnes ship upgraded lifetime overall length metres width deck level metres height metres draught metres range nautical miles decided use nuclear propulsion high cost power supplied rolls marine trent gas turbine generator units diesel generator sets sets largest supplied royal_navy feed low voltage electrical systems arranged tandem electric propulsion motors drive twin fixed pitch propellers instead single island superstructure containing ship navigation bridge flying control centres ships operations divided structures forward island navigating ship aft island controlling flying operations flight deck decks hangar deck measures metres height metres large accommodate fixed wing aircraft transfer aircraft hangar flight deck ships large lifts capable lifting sized aircraft hangar flight deck seconds ships announced self defence weapons currently airborne threats cannon counter threats systems ship radars fitted type destroyers long range wide area search systems maritime medium range active array radar navigation radar claims fully automatic detection track initiation track air targets range kilometres track target size ball kilometres away maximum range fitted type frigates assault ships fitted ultra electronics series path camera munitions ammunition handling accomplished highly weapons handling system naval application common land based warehouse system moves munitions magazines weapon preparation areas track ways lifts forward aft port starboard tracks carry magazines hangar weapons preparation areas flight deck change normal procedures magazines movement controlled central location manpower required munitions initially stored prepared use system speeds delivery reduces size crew crew facilities crew facilities include cinema physical fitness areas manned seven catering staff large dining areas largest capacity serve meals hour medical staff bed medical facility includes operating theatre dental surgery including accommodation company wide assault routes flight deck carrier air group vessels expected capable carrying aircraft maximum thirty helicopters anticipated routine peacetime deployment rising surge force number helicopters fourteen available package carriers typically anti submarine configuration airborne early warning alternatively package include mix royal_navy september landing spots planned deck marked operation medium helicopters allowing lift company troops designed operations blade folding whilst aircraft lifts accommodate blades fixed wing aircraft size queen elizabeth class enable accommodate current projected carrier based fixed wing aircraft lack arresting gear means initially completed capable operating aircraft lightning aircraft aircraft require catapult assisted arrested recovery lightning retirement remained carrier capable fixed wing aircraft available royal_navy royal_air_force expected replacement lockheed martin lightning originally intended ships carry version aircraft flown pilots royal_air_force aircraft expected begin trials flying carrier air wing fully operational period following strategic defence security review government intended purchase carrier variant modify carrier use system launch recover aircraft cheaper variant greater range carry larger diverse defence secretary announced parliament government decided revert predecessor plans purchase abandon completion prince wales configuration reason given conversion cats traps cost double originally estimated delivered earliest july defence secretary indicated speech united_states order initial aircraft operated jointly royal_air_force fleet air arm november government announced commitment order aircraft available carrier duties fully capable performing vertical landing similar fashion way operated method operation places limitations loads aircraft capable returning ship consequence avoid costly disposal sea fuel munitions royal_navy developing rolling vertical landing technique operation lightning hybrid landing technique uses lightning thrust capability slow forward speed knots allow rolling landing disc brakes need wire helicopters medium sized multi role helicopter versions service armed forces known utility version carry troops seated sixteen patients anti submarine warfare variant complete electronic warfare suite versions use common airframe rolls engines range endurance engine cruise option nautical miles hours range extended fuel tanks supplemented auxiliary fuel tanks fitted cabin armament depends mission includes anti ship missiles torpedoes door mounted machine guns multi purpose rocket cannon pods air air missiles air surface missiles assigned carrier scheduled enter service royal_navy equipped mission sensors include radar active electro optical imaging electronic surveillance measures integrated self defence suite maritime version armed air surface missiles torpedoes depth charges cannons heavy machine guns aircraft maximum range nautical miles endurance half hours airborne early warning control war clear importance airborne early warning control led development succeeded retired second half planning replacement identified early stage integral generation aircraft carrier programme known contracts placed april april received follow study contract project renamed control assessment phase began september study contracts awarded platform mission systems options lockheed martin helicopter fitted mission systems maintain present finally upgrade mission systems delayed project competition lockheed supply bolt package carried pod based lockheed intended use derivative radar believed system systems begin flight trials summer ahead main gate pods planned system available small force helicopters remain service final withdrawal remainder royal_navy construction speech july announced year delay allow contractual cost issues resolved building carriers confirmed december building undertaken companies seven shipyards final block integration assembly systems surface ships aft island forward island centre blocks lower block centre block december diesel engines electricity generators ship ordered march contracts supply tonnes steel awarded estimated value million contracts included million cable million reverse equipment provide tonnes fresh water daily million aviation fuel systems april contract manufacture aircraft lifts worth awarded scott scotland mid treasury announced making available funds regular defence budget reportedly allowing construction carriers begin followed government giving green light construction queen elizabeth class stating ready sign contracts production creation planned joint venture taken place joint venture operational july later sold share renamed unit surface ships undertake approximately cent project workload september announced million package important equipment contracts million highly weapons handling system ships million supply systems ships million air traffic control software million supply pumps associated systems engineering million emergency diesel generators october announced contracts placed carriers rolls gas turbines generators motors power distribution equipment platform management systems propellers shafts steering gear construction carriers involves people companies shipyards building sections ships steel cut project july signalled start construction lower block production started january construction bow carried completed march january announced shipyard secured million contract build flight decks carriers day construction began portsmouth queen elizabeth august queen elizabeth left surface ships shipyard glasgow large ocean going barge travelling miles northern coast scotland block arrived evening august forward island built attached march aft island attached june ski jump november queen elizabeth christened july floated july fitting end crew aboard ahead sea trials beginning august delivery flight trials helicopters begin flight trials end operational military capability declared prince wales strategic defence security review declared needed aircraft carrier penalty clauses contract meant second vessel expensive actually building directed second aircraft carrier prince wales built completion sold directed ship converted configuration costs associated conversion escalated leading government reverse decision build ship original configuration defence secretary cut steel prince wales royal_navy stated carriers likely commissioned capable operating prime minister announced prince wales brought service april construction prince wales announced complete ship set handed fully ready line duties globe period restoration operational royal_navy fixed wing capability speculated bbc programme ships host aircraft
Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier