Shake-up for naval shipbuilding alliance

THE alliance of companies tasked with building two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy is set for a shake-up, with American defence contractor KBR expected to lose its role as project manager of the team.

The alliance comprises BAE Systems, Thales UK, Babcock and VT Group. A large part of the £3.6 billion project is likely to come to Scotland, with BAE Systems’ shipyards on the Clyde and Babcock’s yard on the Firth of Forth poised to win work on the carriers.