UK Inquiry Tracker

Delivering carrier strike

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 7 Sep 2020 Closed: 9 Nov 2020 Parliament page

Carrier Strike is a military programme to provide the ability to launch aircraft from a ship to undertake a range of military tasks. It is central to the government’s plans for the country’s armed forces and the first step towards Carrier Enabled Power Projection (CEPP), which is the government’s ambition … Read more Carrier Strike is a military programme to provide the ability to launch aircraft from a ship to undertake a range of military tasks. It is central to the government’s plans for the country’s armed forces and the first step towards Carrier Enabled Power Projection (CEPP), which is the government’s ambition to be able to respond to conflicts and support humanitarian relief efforts anywhere in the world at short notice. Carrier Strike will be based around two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers – the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy – together with Lightning II jets, which are being procured through the United States Department of Defense. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is also buying a new airborne radar system, Crowsnest, to help protect a carrier strike group. Depending on the type of deployment, the carriers will be accompanied by at least one destroyer, an anti submarine warfare frigate, and ships for support and resupply. The NAO has previously stated, in 2017, that the project phase to 2020 would be crucial, with little room for manoeuvre in the delivery schedule. Since then, the Department has received two new aircraft carriers into service, now has 18 Lightning II jets and has developed much of the UK infrastructure to support them. It has delivered the carriers for £6.4 billion, which is 3% above the revised figure announced to Parliament in 2013. The Department has conducted sea trials and is working closely with the US to be ready for its first joint deployment in 2021. It has also established plans for using Carrier Strike in its early years. The latest NAO report though finds that the MoD is now making slower progress in developing the crucial supporting activities that are needed to make full use of a carrier strike group, such as the Crowsnest radar system and the ability to resupply the carriers. In addition, it has not established a clear view on the future cost of enhancing, operating and supporting Carrier Strike, which creates the risk of future affordability pressures. The Department will not achieve value for money from its investment to date unless it provides clarity on its future ambitions; develops its understanding of future development and operating costs; and ensures cross-command coherence and collaboration to develop the full capabilities of Carrier Strike. Later in September we will question senior MoD and military officials on the Carrier Strike programme and the work around it needed to make Carrier Strike fully operational. If you have evidence on the issues raised in this inquiry, please submit it here by Monday 21 September 2020. Show less

17 Recommendations

10 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

3 Letters

1 Event

Activity timeline 6 events

12 Jul
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from David Williams, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, re Carrier Strike, dated 30 June 2021

4 Mar
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Stephen Lovegrove, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, re Delivering Carrier Strike, Recommendation 5, dated 26…

4 Feb
2021

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Twenty-third report from Session 2019-21

13 Nov
2020

Report published

Twenty-Third Report - Delivering carrier strike

13 Oct
2020

Correspondence

Correspondence from Stephen Lovegrove, Ministry of Defence, re Carrier Strike, dated 8 October 2020

28 Sep
2020

Oral evidence

Carrier Strike

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

28 Sep 2020

View on parliament.uk

Carrier Strike

Air Marshal Richard Knighton CB · Ministry of Defence Charlie Pate · Ministry of Defence Sir Simon Bollom · Ministry of Defence Sir Stephen Lovegrove · Ministry of Defence

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Twenty-Third Report - Delivering carrier strike	HC 684	13 Nov 2020	27	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 result

23 Conclusion Accepted in Part

Twenty-Third Report - Delivering c…

The carriers cannot be used on their own and need a range of support vessels...

The carriers cannot be used on their own and need a range of support vessels to provide supplies and protection. The Department told us that in a conflict situation, for example, it would need anti-submarine warfare frigates, anti-aircraft destroyers, and … Read more

Government Response

The government agrees with the observation and will address carrier support capabilities as part of the Integrated Review, reporting in Q1 2021. It will launch a new competition for Fleet Solid Support requirements in Q1 2021 and consider rotary wing strategy for long-term solutions.

HM Treasury

View details

Government Response AI assessment · 27 of 17 classified

Accepted 21

Accepted in Part 1

Deferred 1

Not Addressed 4

Total 17 recs + 10 conclusions

Correspondence 3 letters

12 Jul 2021 Correspondence from David Williams, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, re Carrier Strike, dated 30 June 2021

Parliament page

4 Mar 2021 Correspondence from Stephen Lovegrove, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, re Delivering Carrier Strike, Recommendation 5, dated 26 February 2021

Parliament page

13 Oct 2020 Correspondence from Stephen Lovegrove, Ministry of Defence, re Carrier Strike, dated 8 October 2020

Parliament page