Cost of UK's super aircraft carriers 'set to soar' 28.04.11
10It's reported that the cost of constructing the Royal Navy's two new aircraft carriers may rocket to seven billion pounds -- that's two billion over budget. HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales are being built by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, comprising BAE systems, Babcock and Thales. The 60,000 tonne vessels escaped defence cuts in October but only because it would have cost more to cancel the projects than complete them. One of the vessels has to be redesigned to carry the US Navy's version of the Joint Strike Fighter. That means fitting catapults and traps - or "cats and traps" - rather than ramps. Other modifications to accommodate various other aircraft are also required. The Ministry of Defence said no final decisions had been taken but that it expected the final cost to be six billion. The new carriers are replacing the Invincible class aircraft carriers, HMS Invincible, HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal. HMS Prince of Wales won't actually be equipped for service but will be kept in reserve.