Sir Michael Fallon makes first sea trip to HMS Elizabeth
Sir Michael Fallon today hailed the return of 'big decks and fast jets' as he visited the largest and most powerful ship ever built for the Royal Navy.
The Defence Secretary made his first visit at sea to the HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is on trials off the coast of Scotland.
He described the 280-metre vessel as the 'greatest warship this country has ever built' after he landed by Merlin helicopter aboard the boat's four-acre flight path.
And he told armchair critics of the £3 billion warship to 'shut up for a while' as he told how the aircraft carrier will improve Britain's military and humanitarian prowess for generations to come.
He also announced the Britain's second aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, will be officially named at a ceremony in Rosyth on 8th September 2017.
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Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon accompanied Officer Captain Jerry Kyd aboard HMS Elizabeth as it carried out manoeuvers off the coast of Scotland today. Sir Michael landed by helicopter to make his first visit at sea to the boat
Sir Michael landed by Merlin helicopter aboard HMS Elizabeth today. The aircraft carrier is the biggest and most powerful vessel ever made for the Royal Navy and is due to be fully operational by 2020
Crew walked aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth as it set sail for ts latest set of sea trials near Lossiemouth in ScotlandÂ
The behemoth of a ship has a large runway to allow aircraft to take off and land - giving Britain's military greater flexibility
Hundreds of crew members gathered on the aircraft carrier's deck  to listen to Sir Michael Fallon as he hailed the return of an era of 'big decks and fast jets' which he said would help keep Britain safe for generations to comeÂ
Speaking to crew aboard the  warship, Sir Michael said it has 'been a while since HMS Illustrious' - an aircraft carrier built in the late 1970s - and added: 'But big decks and fast jets are now back.'
He said: 'This ship is so much bigger than Illustrious and it combines, of course, sea power with air power. Already we have 10 F-35s being flown and trained in the United States. By the end of this year we will have 14 of those fast jets - the world's most sophisticated fighter.'
The Defe nce Secretary also told the ship's company it is time for the 'armchair critics to shut up for a while', adding that HMS Illustrious 'has now gone'.
'But Queen Elizabeth, the biggest and the greatest warship this country has ever built, will go on now from these trials to defend our country, to safeguard our sea lanes, to work with our allies and partners to keep the peace, and to save lives across all seven seas,' he added.
He said critics of the project should 'come and see this wonderful flagship of the Royal Navy, which will help keep this country safe for 50 years to come'.
He added: 'In a modern world, we need a strong Navy, we need an aircraft carrier, and from an aircraft carrier you need to be able to fly the best jets.'
The £3 billion behemoth is set to be the nation's future flagship - her 700-strong ship's company plus 200 contractors are c urrently sailing off the coast of Scotland for maiden sea trials.Â
Sir Michael said the ship will bolster Britain's ability to fight wars and help in humanitarian disasters around the globe.
He said:Â 'Our carrier programme is a clear demonstration of British power and commitment to our global standing.Â
'With two aircraft carriers we will have one available at all times, providing a world-class carrier strike capability.Â
'They offer a prodigious promise to future generations of our determination to continue fronting up to aggression for years to come.
'The magnificent HMS Queen Elizabeth provides us with power on a scale we have never seen before.Â
Sir Michael Fallon landed by Merlin helicopter to inspect the aircraft carrier. he said the new class of aircraft carrier will strengthen the United Kingdom's ability to deliver humanitarian and disaster relief and engage in high-end warfighting
The ship is a staggering 280-metres long and weighs some 65,000 tonnes. Inside, the warship is made up of 17 million parts and there are 364,000 metres of pipes which are laid within it
The aircraft carrier is the largest and most powerful ship ever built for the Royal Navy and cost £3billion to constructÂ
Sir Michael Fallon spoke to many of the 700 members of crew aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in a speech which hailed the power and might of Britain's military. He said the new carrier shows the UK's commitment to its global standingÂ
'Protecting us for the next half a century, she will be a highly versatile and potent force, capable of both humanitarian and disaster relief and high-end warfighting.'
He said the demands of modern warfare means Britain needs aircraft carriers.
He said:Â 'The coalition would not have been successful in Iraq in defeating Daesh terrorism in Mosul without the strikes the American jets have flown from their aircraft carrier in the gulf,' he said.
'We can't tell what the future will hold, or which part of the world the terrorist threat may next emerge. We can't tell that now, so we have to be sure we can play our part with our allies in any of the seven seas.'
Sir Michael also said the 'mighty aircraft carrier' is 'great for British industry', with many yards across the UK, thousands of people, and hundreds of apprentices and businesses involved in its creation.
'Ninety per cent of it British - 17 million parts. This ship is a floating showcase for British industry, British talent, British skills and British brainpower,' he added.
'This is a great day for Britain. There are only three other countries in the world building aircraft carriers - and we are building two.'Â
Four weeks ago today HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed for the first time from Rosyth, under the authority of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance which is responsible for building and delivering the ship to the Royal Navy.Â
Celebrating a number of firsts a s we bring the ship to life, she has now had her first helicopter landing, first passenger boat transfer and first port call in Invergordon.Â
And the Ministry of Defence said the the ship's crew of over 700 Royal Navy and 200 industry personnel 'have settled in well to the routine of ship's life'.
The initial period of sea trials, expected to last around six weeks, will test the fundamentals of the ship.Â
The trials are monitoring speed, manoeuvrability, power and propulsion, as well as undertaking weapons trials and additional tests on her levels of readiness.Â
Sir Michael arrived by chopper to inspect the aircraft carrier. HMS Queen Elizabeth is 280 metres long and weighs 65,000 tonnes. Â Some 1,000 people were involved in making the carrier, which was constructed at yards around the UK
Sir Michael inspected the ship and looked over the edge as he toured the ship as it carried out manoeuvres. It is part of a new class of carriers that are expected to form the backbone of the Royal Navy until the 2060s
The crew of the HMS Queen Elizabeth were out in force to help Sir Michael land. The Ministry of Defence said that some 700 people are stationed aboard the ship
Sir Michael was given a guided tour of the new ship by Commanding Officer Captain Jerry Kyd (pictured right)
Last week the Defence Secretary announced the name of the first Type 26, HMS Glasgow, as part of the new City class frigates that will form the backbone of the Royal Navy until the 2060s.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is expected to enter Portsmouth to be handed over to the Royal Navy later this year.Â
The ship is a 280-metres long, 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier which cost some £3 billion to build.
It is set to be the nation's future flagship ship.
A total of 10,000 people worked on construction of the ship, made up in sections at yards around the UK and transported to Rosyth, where it was assembled.Â
Britain's new generation of F35 fighter jets, which are still in production, will use the massive aircraft carrier to take off and dock.
The ship is expected to come into operational use by the 2020s, the Ministry of Defence  said.
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