UK carrier progamme costs increase as PoW build nears completion
Although the build and outfitting of HMS Prince of Wales, the second of the UK’s new class of aircraft carrier, continues broadly on schedule, budgetary pressures still shadow the long-running programme.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) 2018 Equipment Plan released on 5 November, the Queen Elizabeth-class carrier programme saw an increase of £149 million ($195 million) to its budget, based on 2017/2018 aggregate forecasts.
Initially budgeted to cost around £3.5 billion, the programme is now expected to cost the UK taxpayer in excess of £6 billion by its close.
Further, the report stated that UK
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