UK's aircraft carriers to get jump jets 10.05.12
33The Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers are to get jump jet fighter aircraft after a change of mind by the Government over costs and delays.
In an announcement this morning the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed the National Security Council had agreed to place orders for the B-variant Joint Strike Fighter, or F35-B, and abandon the cats and traps version, the F35-C.
He said sticking with the F35-C would have delayed Britain getting carrier strike capability by at least three years to 2023 at the earliest. And the cost of fitting catapults and arrestor gear to the Queen Elizabeth class carrier would have risen by two billion pounds.
The jump jet decision means the UK can have an aircraft carrier available continuously as the second carrier would provide capability while the first was in maintenance.
He said the UK would receive its first F35-B this summer, with the Queen Elizabeth due to arrive for sea trials in early 2017. F35-B flight trials off the HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier will begin from 2018.
Speaking to the Commons, he said: "The 2010 SDSR decision on carriers was right at the time, but the facts have changed and therefore so too must our approach. This Government will not blindly pursue projects and ignore cost growth and delays. Carrier Strike with 'cats and traps' using the Carrier Variant jet no longer represents the best way of delivering carrier strike and I am not prepared to tolerate a three year further delay to reintroducing our Carrier Strike capability. This announcement means we remain on course to deliver Carrier Strike in 2020 as a key part of our Future Force 2020."
Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, said: "Our Armed Forces have a successful history of operating short take-off and vertical landing aircraft and our pilots are already flying trials in this variant of the Joint Strike Fighter alongside our US allies. These stealth aircraft will be the most advanced fast jets our Armed Forces have ever operated and I know they will do so with the greatest skill and professionalism."
Responding, the Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy said the "chaotic carrier programme" was the "biggest blow to this Government's defence credibility."
He said: "Standing at the despatch box, the Prime Minister announced his plans to reverse Labour's carrier strike policy, scrap the Harrier, sell Ark Royal, build two carriers but mothball one, sack trainee pilots and downgrade British power at sea.
"But this U-turn has now gone full circle and nothing has been gained. Two years wasted.
"In tough times £250m has been squandered while our forces are having their allowances cut."
The decisions had left the UK open to "international ridicule" with no jets to fly from aircraft carriers for a decade, he said.
"The Secretary of State has said the Government will do the right thing when the facts have changed.
"But the fact is the previous Labour government got it right and this Government's policy has unravelled."
He added: "It is time the Prime Minister started to take responsibility. It is him that should be at that despatch box apologising for his and his Government's incompetence."