Mark Francois MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, recently visited Britain’s new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is currently being built at Rosyth Dockyard in Scotland and is due to be floated out into the Firth of Forth in the summer of this year.
The Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, which will weigh 65,000 tons each, will be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed for the Royal Navy and will represent a step change in capability – delivering strategic effect and influence around the world.
The first – HMS Queen Elizabeth – is nearing completion in Rosyth and when she floats out the second ship of the class, HMS Prince of Wales, will then commence construction in her stead. As Armed Forces Minister (and the son of a Veteran who served in the Royal Navy at D-Day), Mark had asked to visit the ship to see the progress of the carrier programme for himself.
Both carriers will operate the F35B Lightning II jet, one of the most modern combat aircraft in the world and the successor to the old Sea Harriers, which served so well in the Falkland conflicts in 1982.
Commenting on the visit to Rosyth, Mark Francois said:
“HMS Queen Elizabeth will be a spectacular ship and, once handed over to the MOD in 2016, a magnificent asset for the UK’s Armed Forces. This ship will be at the heart of the Royal Navy for decades to come and will play a key role in protecting the UK’s interests around the world.
As my father served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, it was wonderful to stand on the flight deck of this incredible new ship and to know that our Navy remains committed to protecting our interests around the globe.”