Defence news today includes reports on HMS Queen Elizabeth and the House of Commons Defence Committee F-35 report.
HMS Queen Elizabeth
A number of outlets have reported on the stern seal issue with HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is being repaired while the ship is alongside in Portsmouth.
A Royal Navy spokesperson said:
This is the biggest ship in our history, and sea trials are precisely for finding manageable teething problems like this and rectifying them. Repairs under contract are already underway alongside in Portsmouth and the sea trials will take place as planned in the New Year, when we will continue to rigorously test the ship before she enters service.
The House of Commons Defence Committee report on F-35s
The Times and BBC has reported on the House of Commons Defence Committee’s F-35 report.
An MOD spokesperson said:
We strongly refute any suggestion of a lack of transparency in the F-35 programme, which has been subject to intense scrutiny not only from this inquiry, but from the UK’s independent public spending watchdog and in our regularly published reports.
As ministers, civil servants and members of our Armed Forces have emphasised, the programme remains on track, on time, within costs and not only offers our military the world’s most advanced fighter jet but will support over 24,000 British jobs and is very much clear for take-off.
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