Green light for new £4 billion aircraft carriers

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The HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed in Britain, and will enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively.

Their construction and assembly at shipyards in Portsmouth, Barrow-in-Furness, Glasgow and Rosyth will create or sustain 10,000 jobs across Britain, said the MoD.

New warship: Artist impression of one of the new super aircraft carriers

Defence Secretary Des Browne told MPs in a written statement that the MoD had now completed the financial, commercial and management arrangements necessary for the project to go ahead.

Contracts will be signed once industry has finalised a new shipbuilding joint venture being set up by BAE Systems and VT Group which will help build the carriers.

Mr Browne said: "The two aircraft carriers will provide our front line forces with the modern, world-class capabilities they will need over the coming decades. They will support peace-keeping and conflict prevention as well as our strategic operational priorities.

"This is an important day for the project and I am delighted that we are moving closer to signing the contracts for the manufacture of the carriers."

Defence equipment minister Baroness Taylor added: "Today's confirmation that we are proceeding with the two aircraft carriers underlines our commitment to both the Royal Navy and to Britain's shipbuilding industry.

"We are investing about £14billion in the Navy and in the maritime industry over the next 10 to 15 years. The future carriers will provide an important military capability and will sustain many jobs - around 10,000 at the peak of production."

Delighted: Admiral Sir Jonathan Band said the new carriers would transform Britain's defence capabilities

First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said: "I am of course delighted with today's news which, when the joint venture is formed, will enable the Ministry of Defence and industry to sign the contract for the two new aircraft carriers.

"These ships with their aircraft will transform Britain's defence capabilities when they enter service, delivering air power in support of the full range of future operations at sea, in the air and on land."

The 280-metre-long 65,000-tonne carriers will be capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft.