The Ministry of Defence News reports that the MoD is nearly ready to go ahead with contract signatures for the Royal Navy's future carriers. This is yet another teasing step towards actual production - and what with the rumour and misinformation about whether this project will actually go ahead, it is a reassurance that these much needed ships will actually be built.

Above: Left Peter Jones (32) from Kirkcaldy Fife (Mature Apprentice Electrical engineer) and Right, Michael Fraser (20) from Dunfermline (Apprentice Electrician) get to grips with the new aircraft carrier with Secretary of State for Defence Des Browne. This model further confirms the final layout of the super carriers, and it looks absolutely superb. Outside the US Navy, these carriers will be the largest in the world! Photo credit: © Crown Copyright/MOD 2008

I love this project, it - and the carrier's compliment of F35 fighters - has been a favourite story to watch coming to fruition. Several times I thought that the whole thing would fall through, and in a way I still won't be fully convinced until I see the ship yard laying down the hulls.

Although I don't usually do 'politics', the one positive note on the production is that we are very likely now to see a Conservative government after the next election, and this can only strengthen the likelihood that the Navy will get these ships.

"MOD announced on 25 July 2007 the intention to proceed with manufacture of the two 65,000 tonne aircraft carriers, to be named HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales."

Read the MoD News full story:  'Super carriers get the go ahead'