Design & Preparations Continue for Britain’s New CVF Future Carrier (updated)
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In 1998, Britain’s Strategic Defence review (SDR) announced plans to replace the current set of 3 Invincible Class 22,000t escort carriers with 2 larger, more capable Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) ships that could operate a more powerful force. These new carriers would be joint-service platforms, operating aircraft and UAVs from all 3 services (Navy, RAF, Army) in roles that could include ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), force projection and logistics support, close air support, anti-submarine/ anti-surface naval warfare, and land attack.
Once the new ships of the Queen Elizabeth Class are complete, Britain will possess a full-size carrier force for the first time in several decades. The 65,000t CVF carriers will be equipped with Harrier GR9 and F-35B Lightning II STOVL fighters, along with AEW aircraft and helicopters; but the ships will be upgradeable to handle conventional fixed-wing aircraft and/or unmanned UCAVs during their expected 40-50 year life span.
Invincible Class
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The scale of the CVF effort relative to Britain’s past experiences means that the program structure is rather complex. It has passed through several stages already, and is being run and conducted within an industrial alliance framework. There is also a parallel international framework, involving cooperation with France on its PA2 carrier as a larger derivative of the CVF design.
This DID FOCUS article covers that structure and framework, ongoing developments, and the ships themselves as they round toward final design, construction, and fielding. The project will experience a multi-year delay, but early stage contracts continue…
- The CVF Queen Elizabeth Class (“continue reading…”)
- Program Team: The Aircraft Carrier Alliance
- CVF Program Management
- The CVF Program: Contracts and Key Events [updated]
- CVF-Related Contracts and Events
- Additional Readings & Sources: The Program
- Additional Readings & Sources: The Ships
Subscribe now to DII and gain immediate access to the details as they develop with the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier, including:
- Comparative facts, 10 photos and diagrams including winning and not-winning designs
- Development of a possible joint acquisition agreement with France's PA2/CVF program, and key differences between the 2 variants.
- Program structure and procurement news for CVF contractors under the Aircraft Carrier Alliance structure, incl. BAE Systems, Thales Group, VT Group, KBR UK, FBM Babcock Marine, and others.
- Debates concerning Britain's accompanying F-35B Joint Strike Fighter purchase, and potential substitutions
- Insight into the UK's SMART acquisition steps to control costs over the project life, including: "Recognise that the best can be the enemy of the very good"
- Source materials and quick links for additional research
Our DII subscribers gain access to the full archive of DII coverage and project developments with Britain's CVF program through a network of links and powerful search features.
