PA2 deferment scuppers CVF savings

Opportunities to drive down costs in the UK's Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) programme will be lost as a result of France's decision to postpone plans to build its own carrier, according to the chief executive of lead shipbuilder BVT Surface Fleet.

As construction contracts totalling GBP3 billion (USD6 billion) for two CVFs were signed on 3 July by UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and industry officials, Alan Johnston told Jane's that collaboration with the French Porte Avions 2 (PA2) build programme would have rendered economies of scale for both procurement efforts.

However, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced in May that a decision on whether to proceed with PA2 had been delayed until 2011-12, dashing French Navy hopes of having a second carrier in service by the mid-2010s.

Johnston, who spoke to Jane's at a CVF contract signing ceremony in the carrier HMS Ark Royal in Portsmouth, said: "In support and procurement activities there would have been savings, but I couldn't gauge the significance [at this time]."

Image: An artist's impression of the RN's future aircraft carrier, which will operate the short take-off and vertical landing (F-35B) version of the Joint Strike Fighter. (Thales UK) 166 of 334 words