The Ministry of Defence has announced a £7.7bn increase in the defence budget over the next three years, allowing two new aircraft carriers to be built.
‘We can confirm that we will now place orders for two 65,000 tonne aircraft carriers, the largest ships ever sailed by the Royal Navy,’ said Defence Secretary Des Browne.
For Thales UK, the announcement indicated an approval of a naval ships manufacturing project.
‘This gives the green light for the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, of which Thales UK is a founder partner, to proceed to the manufacturing phase,’ said Alex Dorrian, CEO of Thales UK.
Thales UK will work with BAE Systems to develop the aviation operations relative to the ships.
The carriers are scheduled to enter service in 2014 and 2016.
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17 months or two and a half years - which is it?