Britain has given a green light for the construction of two new "super-aircraft carriers" for the country's Royal Navy, the defence ministry said Tuesday. The carriers, to be named Her Majesty's Ship (HMS) Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, will be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed in Britain, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement.
Each ship will cost 3.9 billion pounds (4.9 billion euros, 7.7 billion dollars). The ships, which will be 280 metres (919 feet) long by 70 metres wide and displace 65,000 tonnes full load carrying up to 40 aircraft, are expected to enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively and be operational for 50 years.
Defence Secretary Des Browne said they will provide Britain's front-line forces with "modern, world-class capabilities", supporting peace-keeping and conflict prevention as well as "strategic operational priorities". The MoD said they would also secure 10,000 jobs.
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