LONDON, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- The British Defense Ministry announced several subcontractors have been selected to support the construction of the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers.
Quentin Davies, British defense equipment and support minister, announced Thursday the Aircraft Carrier Alliance has contracted five companies to support the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier program, the British Defense Ministry reported.
ACA, comprised of European defense companies BAE Systems and Thales, awarded five U.K.-based companies to support the new Queen Elizabeth-class carriers with services including final assembly, firefighting technologies, heating and ventilation among other requirements in deals worth approximately $543.7 million.
"The build phase of the carrier program is now well under way," Davies said in a statement.
"The first units have already been delivered to Rosyth where these ships -- the cornerstone of the Royal Navy of the future -- will be assembled."
