The Alliance Management Board of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance
(ACA) has approved a revision to the build strategy that will
deliver the UK's two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.
The ACA has adjusted its plans for the manufacture of the two
65,000 tonne ships in order to meet the MOD's budget requirements,
reduce risk and protect core capability in the main UK shipyards.
This adjustment is in keeping with the outcome of the MOD's
Equipment Examination of late 2008 and the decision to re-schedule
delivery of the two carriers.
The ACA has approved the following decisions under the
developing build strategy:
- Lower Block 1 (the bow section) will be built by Babcock's
yards at Appledore and Rosyth;
- Lower Block 2 will be built by BVT Surface Fleet in
Portsmouth;
- Lower Blocks 3 and 4 (the stern section) will be built by BVT
on the Clyde;
- The sponsons (the overhanging upper hull structure) will be
manufactured by Babcock Marine;
- The two superstructure Islands will be built by BVT in
Portsmouth.
Final assembly and integration of the two warships will be
undertaken by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance partners at Rosyth.
The previous build strategy had planned for Lower Block 3 to be
constructed at BAE Systems Submarine Solutions in Barrow, but
existing and future workloads on submarine programmes have led to a
lack of capacity to take on the additional carrier work. The
team in Barrow will continue to provide engineering support to the
build of Lower Block 3.
The ACA has also announced further shipbuilding orders worth up
to £150M to UK shipyards. A&P Tyne on Tyneside and
Cammell Laird on Merseyside have both been named as preferred
bidders for the build of the large central Upper Blocks. This
will secure further UK manufacturing jobs in addition to the £570M
in equipment sub-contracts already placed with UK companies for the
Queen Elizabeth class carriers.
Commenting on the revised build strategy, Geoff Searle,
Programme Director for the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers,
said:
"The Aircraft Carrier Alliance has developed a cost effective
and low risk build strategy that I am confident will deliver the
two carriers in line with the MOD's requirements. It will also
ensure that we retain the essential core skills in the UK maritime
industry to deliver sovereign naval capability long into the
future.
"I am delighted that we have also been able to announce that
both the north-east and north-west regions, with their traditional
shipbuilding heritage, will contribute to the build of these great
ships".
Tony Graham, MOD's Head of Capital Ships, responsible for client
oversight of the project, said:
"Alongside the developing build strategy, we are very pleased to
announce additional shipbuilding work for the Queen Elizabeth Class
carriers which further extends involvement across the UK.
This provides greater certainty for our supplier base and keeps the
project on a sure footing as we enter full scale manufacture."
About the Aircraft Carrier Alliance
The innovative Aircraft Carrier Alliance is a single integrated
team formed from BVT Surface Fleet, Babcock, BAE Systems, Thales UK
and the MOD (which acts as both partner and client.) It is
responsible for delivering the Queen Elizabeth Class ships to time
and cost.
Alliancing allows for the collaborative delivery of the aircraft
carriers by bringing together all interested parties with a vested
financial interest to make decisions to achieve what is best for
the project, as well as providing the most effective way of
managing risk and reward.
About the Queen Elizabeth Class
The contract to build the two new Aircraft Carriers for the
Royal Navy - HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, was
signed on 3rd July 2008. The in-service dates announced at
the time of the Main Gate, 2014 and 2016, have been deferred by 1
to 2 years following MOD's Equipment Examination.
The carriers will be the biggest and most powerful surface
warships ever constructed for the UK and represent a step change in
Joint Capability. They will enable the delivery of increased
strategic effect and influence around the world, at a time and
place of the UK's choosing, and will be a key component of the
improved expeditionary capabilities needed to confront the diverse
range of threats in today's security environment.
Key Facts
• The carriers will
each provide 4 acres of sovereign territory with global access.
• The Flight deck will
support an air wing capable of delivering significant offensive air
power to support the battle ashore for prolonged periods of
time.
• They will be capable
of carrying the widest possible range of aircraft in support of
operations.
• The carriers are
being specifically developed to provide a well found base for the
UK version of the future 5th generation of the US Joint Strike
Fighter.
• A versatile and
adaptable design will provide for a range of roles and
configurations, through life.
• The carriers will
each weigh 65,000 tonnes, be 280m long and 70m wide. A ship of this
size is necessary to deliver the quantity of air power
required.
• The ships will be
capable of 25 knots.
• They will have a
total complement (with air group) of approximately 1500 people