Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers

The UK is procuring two new Aircraft Carriers for the Royal Navy - HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince Of Wales the Queen Elizabeth Class due to enter service in 2014 and 2016, respectively. The carriers will be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed for the Royal Navy and represent a step change in capability, enabling the delivery of increased strategic effect and influence around the world. They will be a key component of the improved expeditionary capabilities needed to confront the diverse range of threats in today’s security environment.

The Specs:

Displacement: 65 000 tonnes
Length: 284m
Beam: 70m (flight deck)
Height: 56m (keel to masthead)
Draft: 11m
Decks: 9 (+flightdeck and superstructure)
Complement: 600 (+up to 1000 air wing)
Aircraft Carried: Up to 40 F-35B, helicopters and drones
Fuel Storage: 8 600 tonnes
Flight Deck Area: 13 000m²
Hanger Space: 29 000m³ 
Maximum Speed: 25+kts
Unrefuelled range: 10 000nm
Projected availability: 584 days/year (2 ships)
Interval between dockings: 6 years
Propulsion: 2x Rolls-Royce Marine 36MW MT30 gas turbine alternators, 4x Diesel Engine 10MW

The ships will be delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) – an innovative alliance comprising industry participants and MOD – in which MOD acts as both client and participant. For the Manufacture Phase the Industrial Participants will be: the BAES/VT planned Joint Venture, Thales, Babcock and BAES (Surface Ships & Insyte).
Britain's requirement for new Aircraft Carriers. 

The Future Aircraft Carriers (CVF) will deploy offensive air power in support of the full spectrum of future operations. This will be provided by a Joint Force Air Group (JFAG) which primarily consists of a combination of the Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) and the Maritime Airborne Surveillance and Control (MASC) system. JCA/MASC will be capable of operating in all weathers, day and night, to provide carrier strike, as well as air defence for the carrier and offensive support for ground forces ashore. 

The JFAG will also operate helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from all three Services in a variety of roles that could include anti-submarine/anti-surface warfare, attack and support. The Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the Lockheed Martin F35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has been selected to fulfil the JCA role. The carriers will also be able to operate GR9 Harriers.