Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) Royal Navy

[adsH]

Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF)
Following a requirement stated in the Strategic Defence Review for a new larger class of aircraft carrier, as a replacement for the three existing Invincible class ships, the CVF was conceived.

In January 2003, the Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced that the Royal Navy's new generation of aircraft carriers will be designed and built by an alliance between the Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems/Thales UK.

The two vessels, will be the largest and most powerful surface warships ever built in the UK. The reduction in hull numbers is to be achieved through modern build and support techniques, which will dispense with the need for long refit periods and will allow required availability to be achieved from only 2 hulls.

CVF will be a Joint Defence Asset, and will focus specifically on Joint Force 2000 enabling operations from forces of all 3 services to contribute to sea, land and air battles. Lessons learnt from the successful build and early operating experience of HMS Ocean will be incorporated in the CVF programme.

The ships will be designed and built entirely in the United Kingdom, with shipyards at Babcock BES at Rosyth in Scotland, BAE Systems on the Clyde, Swan Hunter in the North East and Vosper Thorneycroft at Portsmouth potentially playing key roles, creating or sustaining around 10,000 jobs in the United Kingdom.

'CVF will be the principal platform for the RN/RAF Future Joint Combat Aircraft (FJCA) which will replace RN and RAF Harriers; the FJCA role will be filled by the STOVL (short take off vertical landing) variant of the Lockheed Martin F35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The CVF Carrier Air Group (CAG) will also include the Maritime Airborne Surveillance & Control system to provide sensor coverage against air and surface threats, together with command and control for other air operations. CVF will be capable of supporting the operation of helicopters in a wide variety of roles that could include anti-submarine warfare, attack and support.

In order to maximise the flexibility that CVF can offer over its potential 50 year service life, the carriers will be built to an innovative adaptable design. Although CV-based, the ships will initially be fitted with a ramp for STOVL operations. Post JSF, the design will be capable of modification to operate aircraft requiring a catapult launch and arrested recovery.

Although the final dimensions of CVF have yet to be confirmed, initial indications suggest that the carriers could be the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy. Detailed work on the design is ongoing and the size and shape of the ships should be confirmed during 2004.

The base port will be Portsmouth, Hampshire


I just thought some people here might wan't to read up on what the Royal navy is doing to modernise its fleet!!!

[Winter]

Well, as soon as they put this in motion, they tried to drastically shrink the size of the design due to financial problems and others. I'm not sure of it's current status though. At least they can afford a website:

http://www.futureaircraftcarrier.co.uk

There are also seperate sites for the associated future SSN (Astute) and destroyer (Daring). A PR opportunity.

[tatra]

Heaven forbid, the British may end up cooperating with the French on the new carrier(s)...

[adsH]

Originally Posted by tatra

Heaven forbid, the British may end up cooperating with the French on the new carrier(s)...

they are cooperating with the french all future Surface ships for UK will be made at the French/Italian dry docks all our soctalnd and england facilites are shutting down massive lay offs are expected.coutry is goign through a transitional pahse we are becomeing less production more tertiary phased country with tourism nd services based country!!

[Winter]

Originally Posted by adsH

they are cooperating with the french all future Surface ships for UK will be made at the French/Italian dry docks all our soctalnd and england facilites are shutting down massive lay offs are expected.coutry is goign through a transitional pahse we are becomeing less production more tertiary phased country with tourism nd services based country!!

? The future carrier, SSNs and Daring-class are all being built in Britain...

Tertiary sector growth is a global trend, with the gradual advancement of the world and technology, and less labour-intensive primary and secondary activities because of it.

In regard to your comments about the UK's shipyards in this thread and BAe in another, you might be interested:

BAE says considering offers for warships division

(Reuters) - Defence firm BAE Systems says it has received a number of potential offers for its warship and submarines businesses and it is evaluating them.

Europe's largest defence firm operates three shipbuilding and submarine yards in north England and Scotland employing over 5,000 and although analysts say it has an annual turnover of around 800 million pounds they estimate it makes an operating loss.

"There have been expressions of interest. We would have to look at any such ideas or offers on their merits and our priority is shareholder value," a company spokesman said on Saturday.

Industry sources said the offers had come from American defence group General Dynamic and British shipbuilder VT Group, but BAE declined to comment and the two potential bidders could not be reached for comment.

Analysts and investors said that if BAE successfully sells the naval division it would increase the chance of Boeing and other American groups seeking a takeover or merger.

In February, Boeing Chief Executive Harry Stonecipher said he had no interest in buying BAE Systems as he did not want to be in the torpedo and shipbuilding business.

BAE System's naval division includes a submarine assembly plant at Barrow-in-Furness in northwestern England and its Govan and Scotstoun yards on the River Clyde in Glasgow.

The group is currently prime contractor on the government's aircraft-carrier programme and also builds nuclear submarines and destroyer ships.

Source: Reuters

[adsH]

Originally Posted by Winter

? The future carrier, SSNs and Daring-class are all being built in Britain...

Tertiary sector growth is a global trend, with the gradual advancement of the world and technology, and less labour-intensive primary and secondary activities because of it.

In regard to your comments about the UK's shipyards in this thread and BAe in another, you might be interested:

BAE says considering offers for warships division

(Reuters) - Defence firm BAE Systems says it has received a number of potential offers for its warship and submarines businesses and it is evaluating them.

Europe's largest defence firm operates three shipbuilding and submarine yards in north England and Scotland employing over 5,000 and although analysts say it has an annual turnover of around 800 million pounds they estimate it makes an operating loss.

"There have been expressions of interest. We would have to look at any such ideas or offers on their merits and our priority is shareholder value," a company spokesman said on Saturday.

Industry sources said the offers had come from American defence group General Dynamic and British shipbuilder VT Group, but BAE declined to comment and the two potential bidders could not be reached for comment.

Analysts and investors said that if BAE successfully sells the naval division it would increase the chance of Boeing and other American groups seeking a takeover or merger.

In February, Boeing Chief Executive Harry Stonecipher said he had no interest in buying BAE Systems as he did not want to be in the torpedo and shipbuilding business.

BAE System's naval division includes a submarine assembly plant at Barrow-in-Furness in northwestern England and its Govan and Scotstoun yards on the River Clyde in Glasgow.

The group is currently prime contractor on the government's aircraft-carrier programme and also builds nuclear submarines and destroyer ships.

Source: Reuters

How old is this news
apparently they are shutting down there surface ship manufacturing after the current orders are complete

[Winter]

Originally Posted by adsH

How old is this news
apparently they are shutting down there surface ship manufacturing after the current orders are complete

24th April 2004, GMT. I've updated the news link as the old one didn't seemed to be working very well.

[joker]

Can anybody tell me the purpose of helos in the air guard role when carrier borne aircraft are taking off?

[moughoun]

It's incase the plane ditch's

[adsH]

Originally Posted by joker

Can anybody tell me the purpose of helos in the air guard role when carrier borne aircraft are taking off?

I think it's for more leverage as it parts the runway i think thats-what you guys are onn about rite.

[gf0012-aust]

Originally Posted by adsH

I think it's for more leverage as it parts the runway i think thats-what you guys are onn about rite.

Both a helo and an escort are tasked with SAR when aircraft movements are in progress.

[umair]

Plus helos are also there for ASW tasking just in case if a rouge sub gets near enough to take potshots.