SDSR reaffirmed the requirement for a strategic requirement for a future Carrier Strike capability. A Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) carrier operating with Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA), the most modern combat jets, will give the UK the ability to project military power more than 700 nautical miles over land, as well as sea, from anywhere in the world. This capability is now known as Carrier Enabled Power Projection (CEPP), and offers operational agility and political choice. CEPP will deliver:
1. The ability to deliver Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) from a main operating base, deployed operating base or the sea.
2. The ability to deliver Carrier Strike in simple or complex interventions from sea.
3. The ability to carry out Non-Combatant Evacuation operations or Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR)/hostage rescue.
4. The ability to conduct amphibious operations, with or without Combat Air Support.
Outside of QEC, CEPP principally consists of:
JCA - Able to penetrate high threat environments and detect, identify, locate and attack targets using a combination of survivability, lethality and multi-spectral sensors.
Maritime Afloat Reach Sustainability (MARS) - A new fleet of tankers and solid support ships will provide solid support to both Carrier Strike and Littoral Manoeuvre operations.
Attack/Support Helicopter (AH/SH) integration into QEC - QEC will host a combined Air Component with both JCA and SH/AH embarked when operating with Royal Marines or supporting Special Forces.
QEC to operate and support multinational aircraft - It is intended that carrier-borne aircraft of other nations, particularly US and France, can be embarked and operated either simultaneously or independently.