A steel cutting ceremony at the Company’s facility marked the official start of production on the stern section, referred to as Lower Block 05. Weighing over 1,000 tonnes on completion, this section will house switchboards, air treatment units and the vessel’s steering gear, as well as some accommodation areas. This latest achievement in the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier programme follows the start of production on the forward section of the hull, Lower Block 02, which began in February of last year.
Steven Carroll, Queen Elizabeth Class Project Director at BAE Systems’ Surface Ships division, said: “Cutting steel on the second section of the hull here in Portsmouth in less than 12 months highlights the tremendous progress we are making on the programme to deliver the nation’s flagships.
“The sheer scale of the hull as it takes shape in six shipyards across the country is a reminder that this is truly a once in a generation engineering project and we are all extremely proud to be a part of it.”
The Hampshire area is hub of activity on the Queen Elizabeth Class programme. BAE Systems workers at the Naval Base will also build island structures for the two ships and the pole mast, whilst integration and testing of the ships’ complex mission system is underway at the Company’s Maritime Integration and Support Centre on Portsdown Hill. Yet another team of BAE Systems engineers is testing the advanced communications systems for the ships. Elsewhere in the region, Southampton-based Kempsafe Limited has contracts to supply galley and laundry equipment on the vessels, and Portsmouth-based Selex Communications is involved in the design of the Identification Friend or Foe system.
This picture is replicated nationwide, with work underway at six shipyards across the UK employing 8,000 people on the QE Class programme and thousands more across the supply chain.
BAE Systems is a leading member of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, working with Babcock, Thales and the Ministry of Defence to deliver the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the UK. Each 65,000 tonne carrier will provide the armed forces with a four acre military operating base which can be deployed worldwide.
For further information, please contact:
Kristina Crowe, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 239 289 6232 Mob: +44 (0)7540628673
kristina.crowe@baesystems.com
Gillian Churchill, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 141 957 2150 Mob: +44 (0)7540628325
gillian.churchill@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384719 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
www.baesystems.com
Ref: 008/2011
