Parliamentary Announcement:
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Future of Royal Navy Invincible Class Carriers
The Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology (Philip Dunne): I
can today announce our plans to preserve the legacy of the Royal Navy’s Invincible
Class aircraft carriers.
The three Invincible Class aircraft carriers - HMS Invincible (in service July 1980),
HMS Ark Royal (in service November 1985) and HMS Illustrious (in service June
1982) – served this country with great distinction having played key roles in conflicts
in the Falkland Islands, Iraq and Bosnia. The last of these, HMS Illustrious, is due to
retire from the Royal Navy in 2014. After that date and in recognition of the service
given by these ships in protecting the UK over the last thirty years, it is our preference
to see HMS Illustrious preserved intact as a lasting tribute to the Service personnel
who served on all three of the carriers.
In early 2014 we intend to hold an Industry Day to launch a competition for the
innovative re-use of the ship to which interested parties will be encouraged to attend.
We will invite a range of organisations, including private sector companies, charities
and trusts to put forward viable proposals to ensure that HMS Illustrious remains
intact and available for future private use while still offering taxpayers value for
money.
HMS Ark Royal was withdrawn from service last year, following the 2010 Strategic
Defence and Security Review. Retiring the ship five years earlier than planned was a
difficult decision but it was the right one that, combined with her sale, has saved over
a hundred million pounds. That has helped the Ministry of Defence to achieve a
sustainable and balanced budget for the first time in decades.
Following a competition, we have awarded a contract to sell HMS Ark Royal to the
ship-recycling company Leyal for around £3 million. The recycling will be carried
out at the company’s site in Turkey, the same location at which HMS Invincible was
recycled.
Although a number of proposals to find an alternative use for the ship were tendered,
it was decided, after extensive evaluation, that the recycling of HMS Ark Royal was
the most viable option and offered the best value for money for the taxpayer. Bids
received for further use were either not feasible or appropriate, or carried too much
risk.
HMS Illustrious is more suitable for preservation for further non-military use and, as
such, is expected to attract interest from organisations who would be able to put
forward mature and viable proposals, in keeping with the role and history of the
Invincible class of ships.
ENDS