The UK Ministry of Defence has selected both companies competing for its CVF future aircraft carrier contract to build the two ships in partnership. The project is worth around £2.8 billion ($4.6 billion) while through-life support will cost another £6.4 billion.
BAE Systems and Thales UK submitted final design proposals last year for the ships, which are due to enter service in 2012 and 2015. The ships will replace three Invincible-class carriers, and are due to carry up to 48 of the short take-off and vertical landing version of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike fighter.
The MoD has selected BAE as prime contractor and systems integrator while Thales is a "key supplier" and is expected to receive around one-third of the contract value, says defence procurement minister Lord Willy Bach.
Thales's design for the 60,000t ships has been chosen as it promises greater flexibility and adaptability, says chief of defence procurement Sir Robert Walmsley. UK shipyards will build sections for the ships.
For the first time the MoD will be part of the "alliance", taking a risk- and profit-sharing role in the programme. Walmsley says the MoD's stake will probably be less than 10%, but will be decided in talks that are due to conclude with a contract signing late this year or early next. Approval for final go-ahead is expected around the same time.
The precise role of the alliance partners and the numerous subcontractors will be decided during the contract negotiations, says Walmsley. An alliance, he adds, will provide an incentive for the companies to work together and rapidly develop solutions to problems.
The MoD says its single-alliance decision is "innovative": observers say it answers political issues about the future of UK shipyards.
Source: Flight International
