The UK Royal Navy has awarded five contracts worth £333m to various suppliers for equipment to be installed on the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and services for their assembly.
Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies said the first units had already been delivered to Rosyth where the ships would be assembled.
The suppliers include Imtech Marine and Offshore to provide heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment under a £120m contract.
Rosyth-based Ship Support Services received a £105m contract for paint and scaffolding for the build process.
Glasgow-based Henry Abrams received £85m for transport of sections of the ship from the yards across the UK to Rosyth for final assembly.
In addition, Manchester-based Tyco will supply fixed fire-fighting systems under a $15m contract and AEI Cables in Britley received £8m to install 2,500km of cabling for the aircraft carriers.
The 280m-long, 70m-wide Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier has a full-load displacement of 65,000t. They will have an operational range of 10,000nm and the capacity to carry 40 aircraft.
All the contracts have been awarded by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, which comprises industry participants and the UK Ministry of Defence.
The contract to build the two new aircraft carriers was signed on 3 July 2008. HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince Of Wales are due to enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
