Editing Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier (section)

===Aircraft and carrier format selection===
On 17 January 2001, the UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the [[United States Department of Defense]] (DoD) for full participation in the [[Joint Strike Fighter]] (JSF) programme, confirming the JSF as the FJCA.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=883| title=Signing of U.S./U.K. Memorandum of Understanding on the Joint Strike Fighter| date=17 January 2001| work=U.S. Department of Defense| access-date=1 January 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529184734/http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=883| archive-date=29 May 2011| url-status=dead}}</ref> This gave the UK input into aircraft design and the choice between the [[Lockheed Martin X-35]] and [[Boeing X-32]]. On 26 October 2001, the DoD announced that Lockheed Martin had won the JSF contract.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=1 January 2012 |last=Bolkcom |first=Christopher |publisher=CRS Report for Congress |title=JSF Background, Status, and Issues |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA472773.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202052544/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA472773 |archive-date=2 December 2012}}</ref>

On 30 September 2002, the MoD announced that the Royal Navy and [[Royal Air Force]] would operate the STOVL F-35B variant and that the carriers would take the form of large, conventional carriers, initially adapted for STOVL operations. The carriers, expected to remain in service for fifty years, were designed [[for but not with]] catapults and arrestor wires. The carriers were thus planned to be "[[future proof]]", allowing them to operate a generation of CATOBAR aircraft beyond the F-35.<ref name="han30103">{{Cite Hansard |house=House of Commons |title=Future Aircraft Carrier |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030130/debtext/30130-10.htm#30130-10_head0 |date=30 January 2003 |column_start=1026 |column_end=1028 |speaker=[[Geoffrey Hoon]] |position=Secretary of State for Defence |access-date=31 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201044009/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030130/debtext/30130-10.htm#30130-10_head0 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The contract specified that any conversion would use US C-13 [[steam catapults]] and Mark 7 [[Arresting gear]] as used by the American {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|0}} carriers.<ref name="hobbp344">{{Harvnb|Hobbs|2013|p=344}}</ref> Four months later on 30 January 2003, the Defence Secretary, [[Geoff Hoon]], announced that the Thales Group design had won the competition but that BAE Systems would operate as prime contractor.<ref name="han30103"/>

The Secretary of State for Defence announced the intention to proceed with the procurement of the carriers in July 2007.<ref name="announce">{{Cite Hansard |house=House of Commons |title=CSR and Aircraft Carriers |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070725/debtext/70725-0007.htm#07072570000993 |date=25 July 2007 |column_start=865 |column_end=867 |speaker=[[Des Browne]] |position=Secretary of State for Defence |access-date=31 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910220556/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070725/debtext/70725-0007.htm#07072570000993 |archive-date=10 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The contracts were officially signed one year later on 3 July 2008, after the creation of [[BVT Surface Fleet]] through the merger of [[BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions]] and [[VT Group]]'s VT Shipbuilding which was a requirement of the UK Government.<ref name=Contractsigned>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7483942.stm |title=New contract 'will secure Rosyth' |last=Keane |first=Kevin |publisher=BBC |date=3 July 2008 |access-date=3 July 2008 | location=London}}</ref>