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HMS Queen Elizabeth Is Britain's New Carrier, Will Host F-35 Fighter Jets

HMS Queen Elizabeth, one of the most expensive pieces of military spending in UK history, is currently undergoing sea trials. By the end of the decade, a couple of dozen F-35 jump-jet fighters could be taking off from its deck.
HMS Queen Elizabeth As Britain's New Carrier, Will Host F-35 Fighter Jets 6 photos
Photo: YouTube screenshot
HMS Queen Elizabeth As Britain's New Carrier, Will Host F-35 FightersHMS Queen Elizabeth As Britain's New Carrier, Will Host F-35 FightersHMS Queen Elizabeth As Britain's New Carrier, Will Host F-35 FightersHMS Queen Elizabeth As Britain's New Carrier, Will Host F-35 FightersHMS Queen Elizabeth As Britain's New Carrier, Will Host F-35 Fighters
So we've basically got a very controversial ship destined to match up to an equally controversial airplane. Is that something worth looking into? You bet.

Thanks to the wonders of modern drones, we've even got footage of the vessel leaving Rosyth dockyard basin where it was built. Its makers say the tolerances are as low as 50cm from the QE's bottom to the seabed.

Defense spending is always criticized by the British media; we've grown accustomed to that. But while there's no denying she's expensive, Queen Elizabeth and her sister ship HMS Prince of Whales are needed.

During World War II, Britain made some really big carriers but later downsized for a new role: hunting Soviet Submarines. HMS Invincible, along with the older HMS Hermes couldn't stop the Argentinians from sinking six ships during the 1982 Falklands war.

QE is bigger, mode advanced. The new flagship displaces 70,000 tons, is 920 feet in length and can sail at 25 knots. She will also carry 24 F-35s by 2023. Oddly, the US Marines may also fly their own version of the F-35 from the ship. It's also compatible with all sort of helicopters and assault missions.

For defense, HMS Queen Elisabeth has two Phalanx CIWS close-in systems. You know, those absurdly cool getting guns that can shoot down rockets. But British media is already buzzing about various systems being outdated before the ship is even ready for battle.

We think it's pretty cool. Have there ever been any carriers with twin islands and a ski ramp before this one? What's more, the sister vessels only cost a combined $7.6 billion. The U.S. Navy’s new USS Ford is about $13 billion, while the messy F-35 program is expected to reach... $380 billion.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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