BAE Systems presents Queen Elizabeth (QE) aircraft carrier, British Royal Navy’s largest ever warships during Euronaval Online, the digital edition of Euronaval 2020, International naval defense, and maritime security industry exhibition.
BAE Systems presents Queen Elizabeth (QE) aircraft carrier, British Royal Navy’s largest ever warships during Euronaval Online, the digital edition of Euronaval 2020, International naval defense, and maritime security industry exhibition.
British Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth (QE) Class aircraft carrier (Picture source BAE Systems)
The Queen Elizabeth (QE) Class aircraft carriers are the biggest warships ever constructed in the UK, each providing the British armed forces with a four acre military operating base, which can be deployed worldwide.
BAE Systems is a member of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a unique partnering agreement between BAE Systems, Babcock, Thales and the UK Ministry of Defence - enabling collaborative working to deliver the two QE Class aircraft carriers. BAE Systems provides overall leadership and program management to the QE Class, and have played a central role in the design, construction and outfitting of the ships. BAE Systems was also responsible for the design, manufacture and integration of the mission system for the carriers, which enables all parties to operate cohesively within the battlespace.
BAE Systems additionally played a leading role integrating F35B and supporting the integration flight trials. Before either aircraft or ships were built, our engineers used the very latest in simulation technology to make for a seamless match.
The Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier is versatile enough to be used for operations by all three sectors of the armed forces, ranging from supporting war efforts to providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
With its complement of embarked aircraft the QE Class is the centre piece of Britain’s military capability and will be able to operate for long periods anywhere around the world at a time and place of the Government’s choosing, removing the need to base aircraft ashore in other countries.
The Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier is able to accommodate up to 40 aircraft with a 280 m flight deck, capable of landing Chinook and Merlin helicopters. The flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth comes in at an enormous four acres and will be used to launch the fearsome new F35 Joint Strike Fighter fast jet. Four fighter jets can be moved from the hangar to the flight deck in just one minute.
The propulsion system of the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier consists of two Rolls-Royce Marine Trent MT30 36 MW gas turbine engine developing 48,000 hp, and four diesel engines Wärtsilä 38, providing approximately 40MW, with the total installed power approaching 110MW. She can reach a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h) with a maximum cruising range of 10,000 miles (16,000 km).
