Image from the RoyalNavy.mod.ukNavy Surrenders One New Aircraft Carrier In Budget Battle -- Times Online
The Royal Navy has agreed to sacrifice one of its two new aircraft carriers to save about £8.2 billion from the defence budget.
The admirals, who have battled for a decade to secure the two new 65,000-ton carriers, have been forced to back down because of the soaring cost of the American-produced Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft due to fly off them.
The move is a blow to the navy’s prestige and has come on the heels of Gordon Brown’s announcement last month that he was axing one of the navy’s four Trident nuclear deterrent submarines.
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Update: Breaking: Royal Navy Cuts Carrier Buy -- New Wars
Update #2: Dramatic cuts announced in U.K. F-35 program -- F-16.net
My Comment: Cannot say that I am surprised since we have been telling anyone who would listen that the British do not have the funds or resources to build and support such a fleet. even with this announcement, I still expect bigger cuts to be announced in the future.