The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier is a class of two aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy. These are the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy, surpassing even the size of the HMS Ark Royal (R09). The class includes:
The need for a new generation of aircraft carriers was identified by the UK government in the late 1990s. The development of these carriers was part of a larger strategic shift towards naval aviation, given the evolving nature of global threats and the retirement of older carriers like the Invincible-class aircraft carriers. The project was formally announced in 1998, with construction starting in 2009.
Construction was undertaken by BAE Systems in partnership with Aircraft Carrier Alliance, which included companies like Thales Group, Babcock International, and A&P Group. The first steel was cut in 2009 for HMS Queen Elizabeth, which was completed and commissioned in 2017, followed by HMS Prince of Wales in 2019.
The carriers are designed with:
The ships feature a unique design with:
HMS Queen Elizabeth has undertaken several operational deployments:
There have been several issues related to cost overruns, delays, and concerns about the carriers' ability to operate with the full complement of aircraft due to budget constraints and the high cost of the F-35 jets. Additionally, there has been debate over the UK's strategic need for such large carriers post-Brexit.