Non-Subscriber Extract
CVF could be delayed by up to 18 months
14 January 2008
Acute budget pressures affecting the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) departmental planning round have led it to consider delaying the flagship Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) programme by up to 18 months, industry sources have confirmed to Jane's.
However, the MoD insists that that no changes have yet been made to the current schedule for the two ships.
The speculation comes just weeks before BVT Surface Fleet - the nascent surface ship joint venture between BAE Systems and VT Group - is set to stand up. The consolidation of the two companies' shipbuilding and support operations was deemed a prerequisite by government for the CVF project to receive the green light.
The GBP3.9 billion (USD7.7 billion) programme to build two 65,000-tonne carriers for the Royal Navy received its long-awaited go-ahead in July 2007. The ships are currently planned to enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
However, a disappointing Comprehensive Spending Review settlement, and continued heavy expenditure on operations in Afghanistan, has put the defence budget under massive strain.