HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales

The UK’s two new Aircraft Carriers – HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales – are the most capable and powerful warships ever built for the Royal Navy and the future flagships of our nation.

Queen Elizabeth Class carriers at a glance

• Between them they will provide a platform of four acres that are deployable around the world, to serve for the next 50 years.
• Six UK shipyards were involved in the build.
• They will provide a home and platform to operate the F-35 Lightning II stealth combat aircraft, giving the Royal Navy the ability to project military capability more than 450 miles over land and sea from anywhere in the world.
• As part of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, the DE&S Ships Acquisition team has overseen the construction and fit out of both ships, while the Ships Support team will be instrumental in ensuring it stays supported through its operational life.

“The construction of these two mighty new aircraft carriers and the ongoing work to prepare them for service is a true national undertaking which has had DE&S at its heart.”