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Arsenal/Aircraft carrier/HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08)
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United Kingdom · Active

HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08)

STOVL aircraft carrier

The Royal Navy’s largest-ever warship, distinguished by twin islands and a ski-jump flight deck built around F-35B operations.

Introduced2017
Speed25+ knots
RangeApprox. 10,000 nautical miles
CrewApprox. 1,600 with full air group
Platform profile

Technical overview

Manufacturer
Aircraft Carrier Alliance
Primary role
STOVL aircraft carrier
Dimensions
280 m length · 73 m flight-deck beam
Operators
Royal Navy
Variants
Queen Elizabeth class · R08
Operational status
Active
Complete platform dossier

HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) details

Identity

Full name
HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08)
Navy
Royal Navy
Class
Queen Elizabeth class
Type
STOVL aircraft carrier
Commissioned
7 December 2017
Status
Active
Sister ship
HMS Prince of Wales (R09)
Builder
Aircraft Carrier Alliance

Operational roles

  • Carrier strike
  • Fleet air defence
  • Amphibious aviation support
  • Command and control
  • Humanitarian assistance

Ship and class

R08
HMS Queen Elizabeth
R09
HMS Prince of Wales, sister ship

Performance

Length
Approximately 280 m
Flight-deck beam
Approximately 73 m
Displacement
Approximately 65,000 tonnes
Maximum speed
25+ knots
Range
Approximately 10,000 nautical miles

Propulsion

  • Integrated electric propulsion
  • 2 × Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines
  • Diesel generators
  • Electric propulsion motors
  • Not nuclear powered

Unique design

  • Distinctive twin-island superstructure
  • Forward island primarily supports navigation
  • Rear island primarily supports flight operations
  • Largest warship built for the Royal Navy

Flight-deck systems

  • Ski-jump bow for short rolling takeoffs
  • F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing operations
  • No conventional catapults
  • No arresting wires required for F-35B recovery

Defensive configuration

Defensive approach
Operates as part of an escorted carrier strike group
Shipboard defence
Close-in and countermeasure systems support point defence

Embarked air group

Primary fighter
F-35B Lightning II
Helicopters
Merlin HM2, Merlin HC4 and Wildcat
Additional compatible aircraft
Chinook and Apache helicopters

Strengths

  • Restored Britain’s large fixed-wing carrier capability
  • Optimized for the F-35B
  • Distinctive twin-island architecture
  • Smaller core crew than comparable U.S. supercarriers

Limitations

  • No catapults or arresting gear for conventional carrier aircraft
  • Lower speed and displacement than U.S. nuclear supercarriers
  • Air wing capacity depends heavily on embarked deployment configuration

Operators and customers

Royal Navy

Interesting facts

  1. Largest warship ever built for the Royal Navy.
  2. Its ski jump supports F-35B short rolling takeoffs.
  3. The two islands separate navigation and flight-operation functions.