HMS Queen Elizabeth (2012)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section contains information about scheduled or expected future events.
It may contain information of a tentative nature and the content may change dramatically as the event approaches and more information becomes available.

Thales Future Carrier (CVF) Design

HMS Queen Elizabeth is the name believed to have been assigned to the first of the Royal Navy's two new CVF aircraft carriers.

HMS Queen Elizabeth and her sister ship HMS Prince Of Wales will be the largest warships ever built in the UK. They are multi-purpose carriers that can adapt to complete multiple roles. It will be capable of carrying 36 aircraft (the F35 Lightning II), a major capability upgrade from the current Invincible Class carriers.

The aircraft currently selected to be used on these carriers are the Short Take Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the Lockheed Martin F35 Lightning II (formally known as the Joint Strike Fighter). Originally the carrier will be fitted with a STOVL ramp but post-JSF, the flight deck can be converted to use a catapult launch and arrestor recovery system.