(Below) Four indicative pictures generated for BAE Systems dating to 1999 of a possible STOVL CVF concept design.  The design (or at the least the graphics!) seems to have improved compared with the slightly earlier pictures from the DERA.

(Above) A CVF in Action!  A very short video clip from BAE Systems of an early STOVL CVF design operating aircraft.  It's in the .WMV Windows Media format and thus requires a supporting add-in such as MS Windows Media Player.

(Below) An alternative possibility considered was for a large conventional CTOL carrier, this artists impression was published by the DPA in 1999 and is shown operating Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft. 

(Below) Two more views of DPA CTOL concepts dating to 1999.

The STOBAR option was eliminated at the end of 2000. 

(Below) This computer generated image was issued in 2000 and shows a concept design from the BAE Systems led team  for the RN's planned new aircraft carrier - CVF.   The ship is configured as a "conventional take-off and landing" CTOL carrier, on deck are CV variant JSF fighters (both the winning Lockheed Martin design, and a few of the losing Boeing design), E-2C Hawkeye AEW&C aircraft, and a Merlin HM.1 helicopter is overhead. 

(Below) Three updated computer generated images of the BAE CTOL concept published in June 2001 which apparently incorporate several cost saving measures compared with the earlier design.  According to BAE the ship is around 300m long, has a beam of 72m across the angled deck, and a full load displacement of 58,000 tonnes.

Compared with the slightly older BAE STOVL design above, note the angled landing deck (strangely with no arrestor wires visible), two catapults, the smaller and more "stealthy" island with a separate "main mast" aft, the relocation of one of the aircraft lifts to a less convenient deck side position aft of the mast structure, and the more limited deck park area.  There are also some obvious cost saving measures probably caused by the cost of the catapults and presumed arrestor gear - the Sampson multi-function radar is replaced with a rotating long range antenna radar (S1850?) on the main mast, there's no Aster15 VLS missile silo, and Phalanx CIWS mounts are fitted instead of the more advanced Sea RAM ILMS.   Note the steam rising from the 92m long steam catapults.  It's uncertain how exhaust gases from the engines are vented as no funnels are obvious, it may be from waterline exhausts.  (Source: BAE Systems)

(Below) In May 2000 BAE Systems submitted an interesting proposal for a hybrid STOVL/CTOL CVF intended to operate up to 50 STOVL JSF fighters launched from its bow ski-jump, plus 4 conventional airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft such as the Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 2000, operated from an angled deck with a single catapult and arrestor gear.  The design would also enable cross-deck interoperability with conventional carrier-borne aircraft such as the US Navy's Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and France's Dassault Aviation Rafale M.  Figures released BAE gave an impressive 310 meters (1,017ft)  length, 71 m (233ft) beam, and 53,000 tonnes displacement.  Although unsolicited and quickly rejected by the MOD, the proposal nevertheless generated considerable interest and was to be later remembered. 

(Below) These artist's impressions from BAE Systems of its STOVL configuration concept for CVF were released in early 2001.   The carrier is shown operating STOVL JSF fighter aircraft, with both the Lockheed Martin and Boeing designs on deck.

(Below) The Future Carrier Team at BAE Systems asked GateWest New Media to design and produce a "Future Carrier" CD ROM for distribution at national events promoting their Future Carrier bid, inviting suppliers to register their interest.  These graphics show the BAE Systems CVF design in both CTOL and STOVL configurations dating to mid/late 2002.  Note the difference in flight deck, island and mast arrangements.

(Below) A computer graphic of the BAE Systems conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) concept published in September 2002.

(Below)  Two more artists impression of the near final BAE Systems CVF concept, published in October 2002.    Termed by the BAE SYSTEMS Future Carrier Team to be the Adaptable variant of the Future Aircraft Carrier, it is based on the previous BAE CTOL design but modified to  operate the Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).. The Adaptable carrier is optimised for a future conversion to Carrier Variant (CV) aircraft operations, thereby future-proofing the ships for next-generation aircraft or Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) operations.  The displacement is 55,000 tonnes light, 64,000 tonnes deep.

Note:
1. The advanced, low signature, bridge design, with a  distinctive "flying bridge" connecting the two main halves of the structure, with the third aircraft lift just visible underneath.
2. The three relatively small lifts, their size apparently being set by the dimensions of the F-35.
3. The bow skip jump but angled deck, complete with mirror landing aid.  There are no catapults or arrestor gear, although these could be fitted later.
4. The angle flight deck marked for rolling landings by heavily loaded  F-35's, this will  allow a higher "bring back" payload than Vertical Landings (VL).
5. The Sea RAM ILMS defence systems located on each quarter.
6. The stealthy hull shape with its highly flared sides.

Although BAE won the CVF prime contract on 30 January 2003, development of its design was ceased in favour of the superior design from Thales Naval.

 (Source: BAE Systems)

(Below) The following excellent set of pictures were used by Mediastation to promote their 3D visualisation and modelling solutions.  They show some interesting details of the late variant BAE CVF designs. (Click to enlarge the picture).

(Below) The following three pictures illustrate the hanger deck and flight deck layout of the final BAE Systems CTOL design of late 2002.  The hanger is accommodating 6 Merlin  helicopters, 16 F-35C fighters, and 4 Hawkeye E-2's, while 22 F-35C's and 1 Hawkeye E-2 are shown parked on the flight deck. (Click to enlarge the picture).

(Below) It's worth repeating this extraordinary 1998 artist's impression from Thomson-CSF (now Thales Naval Systems) of a STOBAR CVF operating navalised Eurofighter Typhoon's.  It would seem to be pure artistic speculation for PR purposes, painted after a short discussion with a reasonably knowledgeable authority.  It obviously has very little resemblance to the concepts that the Thales CVF Team came up with when work seriously began in November 1999.

(Below) Graphics of the Thales Naval (formerly Thomson-CSF) CVF design that appeared in early 2002.  They show both the STOVL variant (foreground) and CTOL variant (background) CVF designs.  Despite the late date of publication, some characteristics indicate that these graphics may in fact proceed several issued later, and thus represent a very early Thales design concept (late 1999 or early 2000?).   Note:
1. The large crane forward of the bridge 
2. The Phalanx CIWS mounts on the small sponsons.
3. The Arabel radar, which may imply SAAM or PAAMS - although no Aster VLS silo is visible.  The changing radar configuration becomes a feature of the Thales designs!
4. The STOVL design has the same port side deck overhang as the CTOL design, allowing  aircraft parking both sides of the take-off runway.  This is a continuing feature of the Thales designs.
5. The "stealthy" shape of the large sponsons, which also provide a righting buoyancy when immersed during an extreme roll.

(Below) Another view of the same Thales STOVL design

(Below) An artists concept from Thales Naval of their CTOL CVF design dating to mid-2000.  Likely aircraft in the airgroup are all shown in the air:- Lockheed Martin JSF's, a Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye's and a EH101 Merlin helicopter.  A Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter is shown about to be launched from the bow catapult, and more are parked aft.  

(Below) A view of the Thales CTOL design issued in mid 2001.  The design seems very similar to that in picture above. This may not be an official graphic.

(Below) A graphic of the  Thales CTOL design - although first appearing in April 2002 it would again seem to be very similar to the mid-2000 design.

(Below) Three graphics published by Thales Naval in April 2002 of their  conventional take-off and landing CVF concept.  Length overall is about 290m, and displacement about 60,000 tonnes.  Note :

1. The highly unusual configuration of two separate small islands for masts, bridge and control towers, instead of the traditional single structure.   This provides a physical separation of key ship (forward island) and flying control (aft island) functions and reduces air turbulence over the flight deck.
2. One of the two big deck-edge aircraft lifts is clearly visible in the lowered position.
3. The Phalanx CIWS mounts.
4. The ARABEL target designation and tracking radar on the mast atop the aft island.  On French warship this is closely associated with the PAAMS and SAAM missile system  - although no Aster VLS silo is visible here/
5. The "stealthy" shape of the massive sponsons, which allow a large hanger space to be incorporated and also provide a righting buoyancy when immersed during an extreme roll.

(Source: Thales CVF Team)

(Below) Graphics of the Thales CVF CTOL and STOVL concepts issued in June 2002 - just before the MOD's JCA selection decision.  A Thales SMART-L early warning radar is atop the forward island while the massive mast on the aft island mounts a Thales APAR planar-array target designation and tracking radar instead of  the  previous ARABEL.

The strong similarity between the two designs is very obvious - the most visible  differentiators being the bow ski-jump and the deck markings!  Three arrestor wires and two catapults can be seen in the big version of the CTOL graphic.

The graphics seem to be very closely based on the models further below - perhaps a photo of the models scanned-in and touched up?  Or conversely the model may be based on this graphic.

(Below) Models of the Thales CTOL and STOVL CVF designs were on display at Farnborough in July 2002 and  Euronaval 2002 in October 2002.  The models are specifically dated "July 2002" and thus predate the UK MoD's September 2002 decision to opt for an adaptable STOVL configured carrier fitted for, but not with, catapults and arrestor gear.  

(Below) This  graphic of a strangely adrift (or more likely a hastily published incomplete version of the graphic shown next) evolved Thales CVF design was first published in October 2002. 

In accordance with MOD's September 2002 decision the graphic technically shows  a STOVL'ised version of the Thales CTOL design above, re-configured with a bow ski-jump and fitted "for but not with" catapults and arrestor gear.  The suitability of the Thales design for this approach is obvious.

Note:
1. The disappearance of all armament.
2. The curvature of the flight deck towards the bow, forming a ski-jump.  
3. The two launch positions amidships for F-35B fighters (one of which is flying overhead).
4. The extended centre-line take-off run for heavily loaded aircraft.
5. The two vertical landing pads for F-35B fighters - portside aft
6. The reduced size of the "radarmast" the aft island.  A Thales made 'Arabel' multifunction radar is still shown but this will probably be replaced by the BAES made 'Sampson' radar in the final design.
7 . The shape of the two big starboard-side deck-edge aircraft lifts, one of which is in the lowered position, appears to be revised compared with the lifts on early Thales concepts.

(Below) This graphic was widely used when the MOD's announcement regarding the CVF down-select was made in January 2003. Although BAE Systems was selected as the preferred Prime Contractor for the CVF programme, the CVF design would actually be based on that of the losing Thales Naval team, which was judged to be technically superior to that of BAE's in several key areas.  In accordance with MOD's September 2002 decision to select the STOVL variant of the F-35 fighter as the UK's Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA), the graphic shows a STOVL'ised version of the Thales CTOL design (see below for explanations), re-configured with a bow ski-jump and fitted "for but not with" catapults and arrestor gear.  

According to BAE Systems the Thales CVF design was a design concept that could only be used as a high level starting point for the final carrier design, the opinion of Thales Naval differed somewhat.  Many of the mission systems were to be quickly changed to those preferred by BAES.

Note:
1. The highly unusual configuration of two separate small islands, instead of the traditional single structure.  This provides a physical separation of key ship (forward island) and flying control (aft island) functions and, it's claimed, reduces air turbulence over the flight deck.
2.  The two large starboard-side deck-edge aircraft lifts, one of which is in the lowered position.  The shape is again unusual and differs from the lifts on earlier Thales concepts.
3. The lack of visible armament, although small sponsons where this could be fitted are clearly visible.  It seems likely that the final design will be fitted with CIWS/ILMS mounts such as Sea RAM, and possibly also have space and weight reserved for two 16-cell vertical launch silo's for Aster missiles.  The later could be controlled by an accompanying Type 45 destroyer.
4. Massive sponsons (not clearly shown here, see other graphics and the "superblock" diagram further down the page) under the flight deck overhangs allow a large hanger space to be incorporated, and also provide a righting buoyancy when immersed during an extreme roll, or in a  severe list caused by hull flooding.
5. The upward rake of the flight deck towards the bow, forming a ski-jump.  Although very aesthetic in appearance this wastes valuable deck park space on the starboard side and may be altered to a split configuration. 
6. The two side-by-side launch positions amidships for F-35B fighters (one of which is flying overhead).
7. The extended centre-line take-off run for heavily loaded aircraft.
8. The two vertical landing grids for F-35B fighters - portside aft.
9. A Thales manufactured APAR multifunction radar is shown atop the "radarmast" is on the aft island.
10. A Thales manufactured SMART-L search and  early warning radar is shown atop the forward island.

 (Below) This graphic first appeared in March 2003.   Note the mix of features taken from the STOVL and CTOL graphics (above) - which date to about six months earlier.

(Below) These graphics were issued by the joint BAE/Thales "Future Carrier Alliance" (later increasingly referred to as the Aircraft Carrier Alliance)  in May 2003.  Note [as expected] radical changes to the radar fit compared with Thales' original proposals, a BAE Sampson multi-function and fire control radar is now atop the aft island while a Alenia Marconi Systems S1850 air search radar is atop the forward island, rather than the very similar Thales SMART-L from which it is derived.  The aft island has changed quite substantially in configuration, and a crane has appeared outboard of it for (among other things) the recovery of ditched aircraft and helicopters.  The unusual shape of the large lifts is very clear in these graphics.

Almost an excess of hard and soft kill defensive systems are now shown, including DS30B 30mm Oerlikon cannon, RAM PDMS and Phalanx CIWS, SIRIUS and Vampir infra-red alerting sensors, and Super Barricade decoy launchers.  These are probably are intended to be indicative of the options available rather than any firm selection.

The graphics shows the "Alpha" design iteration that bears only a general resemblance to the "Delta" design that became the baseline at the end of 2003.

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