These Military Vehicles Cost More Than Your House

13. United Kingdom Queen Elizabeth-Class Aircraft Carrier

Manufacturer: Alliance of Aircraft Carriers

Principal Users: Royal Navy of the United Kingdom

Cost of Program: $7.6 billion*

Cost per Unit: $3.8 billion*

The Queen Elizabeth class comprises two state-of-the-art aircraft carriers, named HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The first ship of this class, HMS Queen Elizabeth, was officially christened on July 4, 2014, marking a significant milestone for the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.

With a total program cost of approximately $7.6 billion and a cost per unit of around $3.8 billion, these carriers are designed to enhance the UK's naval capabilities. The HMS Prince of Wales made its debut on December 21, 2017, further solidifying the Royal Navy's commitment to modern maritime operations.

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Aircraft carrier of the Queen Elizabeth class (UK): FFacebook.com Although Prince of Wales was initially supposed to be built in a CATOBAR configuration, the British government decided to scrap that plan in 2012 due to the project's growing costs (nearly twice the original quote). Instead, the carriers are configured in a STOVL arrangement, and they use the Lockheed Martin F-35B. With crew, the ship can accommodate 1,600 people. The UK government claims that there are 672 people on board, which is much less than the normal crew number. Although the ship is designed to carry 65,000 tons, an additional 5,000 tons may be added as the class is improved over time.