MPE Filter Solutions For Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers
The Queen Elizabeth class comprises two new aircraft carrier platforms which are currently under construction by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy. Construction of the first, HMS Queen Elizabeth, began in 2009. Her assembly took place on the east coast of Scotland at Rosyth dockyard, from nine blocks built in six UK shipyards. HMS Queen Elizabeth was named at Rosyth on 4th July 2014, with her ship commissioning planned for 2017, and she is expected to enter service in 2020. The second, HMS Prince of Wales, is scheduled to be launched around 2017, followed by commissioning in 2020 and service thereafter.
Each vessel has a displacement of some 70,600 tonnes, is 280 metres long and is designed to have a tailored air group of up to forty aircraft. These will be the largest warships ever constructed for the Royal Navy. Both vessels’ design consist of nine decks beneath the fl ight deck, incorporating a hangar covering the centrepiece of two decks (without islands). In terms of accommodation, each vessel has the capability to house 679 crew, not including the air element with total berths for up to 1,600 personnel.
McGeoch Technology Ltd (www.mcgeoch.co.uk) recently completed approximately £7 million worth of contracts, ranging from all lighting within the vessels (24,000 light fittings), distribution panels, control and instrumentation panels, and junction boxes. The vessel’s design also demanded that EMC filter units were installed to filter the power supplies entering Black leakage path equipment within onboard TEMPEST compartments.
Accordingly McGeoch selected MPE as their preferred solutions provider based upon a solid working relationship on previous projects. Close collaboration ensured that fully proven designs and products were delivered on time and to budget to the aircraft carrier project teams.
In total, MPE has supplied 66 filters for the Queen Elizabeth class, comprising ten different designs of filter. These filters have ranged from 6A through to 63A and included both single-phase and threephase variants from MPE’s standard and low-leakage performance ranges. Each filter has also been mechanically customised with a bespoke earth stud design to suit the application.
It is anticipated that there will be future requirements for spares, support and further follow-on requirements, so continuing the strong working relationship between MPE and McGeoch.
