Time for critics to shut up as ‘big decks and fast jets are back’

● Michael Fallon praises aircraft carrier as ‘great for British industry’

Armchair critics of Britain’s most powerful warship need to “shut up for a while”, said the Defence Secretary as he hailed the return of “big decks and fast jets”.

Whilst on board HMS Queen Elizabeth, the 280-metre, 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier, Sir Michael Fallon, who was visiting the ship for the first time while at sea, also praised it as “great for British industry”.

During his address to the crew gathered on the fouracre flight deck of the vessel yesterday, he said it has “been a while since HMS Illustrious”, adding: “But big decks and fast jets are now back.

“This ship is so much bigger than Illustrious and it combines, of course, sea power with air power. Already we have ten F-35s being flown and trained in the United States. By the end of this year we will have 14 of those fast jets – the world’s most sophisticated fighter.”

The Defence Secretary also told the ship’s company it is time for the “armchair critics to shut up for a while”, adding that HMS Illustrious “has now gone”.

“But Queen Elizabeth, the biggest and the greatest warship this country has ever built, will go on now from these trials to defend our

0 Defence Secretary visited HMS Queen Elizabeth while on her maiden sea trials off the coast of Scotland country, to safeguard our sea lanes, to work with our allies and partners to keep the peace, and to save lives across all seven seas,” he added.

When pressed on what he would say to the “armchair critics”, Sir Michael said: “They should come and see this wonderful flagship of the Royal Navy, which will help keep this country safe for 50 years to come.

“In a modern world, we need a strong Navy, we need an aircraft carrier, and from an aircraft carrier you need to be able to fly the best jets.”

The £3 billion behemoth is set to be the nation’s future flagship – her 700-strong ship’s company plus 200 contractors are currently sailing off the coast of Scotland for maiden sea trials.

Four weeks ago HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed for the first time from Rosyth, under the authority of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, which is responsible for building and delivering the ship to the Royal Navy.