Two-year delay for carriers
THE Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers are likely to be delayed by up to two years following a cash-saving review of Ministry of Defence equipment spending.
Work on the aircraft carrier project - which is set to bring work to the Tees Valley - was due to begin in earnest next spring, with the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales entering service in 2014 and 2016 as the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed for the Royal Navy.
But Defence Secretary John Hutton said that their production timetable was being put back to bring it more closely in line with the introduction of the Joint Combat Aircraft which they will carry.
The ships’ entry into service was likely to be delayed by one to two years, he said in a written statement to the House of Commons.
Stillington-based Darchem Engineering announced recently it had won an £8m contract to supply parts for the carriers.
Bosses today said the delay may not have any impact on its work to supply air intake and exhaust systems for the contract.
Joint managing director John Padbury said: “It’s too soon to tell. The parts that we’re making might not be delayed. The carriers are a very important contract for us but we need to see more detail before we can assess what it means to our business.”
Ross Smith, head of policy and research at the North East Chamber of Commerce, added: “There are still many opportunities for North-east firms. However it is incumbent on the Government to make sure businesses are kept fully informed so that they can plan ahead.”
The MoD’s pledge to proceed with the £4bn contract has been welcomed by Trevor Harrison, managing director of Northern Defence Industries. “As over half the value of any major project trickles down into the defence supply chain, which includes our members, NDI is always keen to see real contracts being placed rather than theoretical discussions,” he said.
