UK carrier, JSF projects falling behind schedule

Posted on: Dec. 21st, 2005 || Source: forbes.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

LONDON (AFX) - Britain's planned new aircraft carriers and the joint strike fighter which will operate from them could both be falling way behind schedule, a committee of MPs has warned.

The Defence select committee said the Royal Navy could be left without the carrier strike capability it needs, forcing it to use outdated equipment at 'substantial additional cost'.

The two projects are worth 31 bln stg and involve the construction of two so-called 'super carriers' and 150 joint strike fighters (JSF), a programme being led by the US.

BAE Systems PLC, VT Group PLC, Thales and Babcock International Group PLC were recently confirmed as the main alliance to build the 65,000 tonne carriers, which have expected in-service dates of 2012 and 2015.

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