Britain’s £3.5bn aircraft carrier breaks down again as defence funding row deepens

Britain’s £3.5 billion flagship aircraft carrier has suffered another breakdown, just as ministers clash over plans to increase defence funding.

HMS Prince of Wales, which has faced issues since entering service, was forced into port in Norway for repairs, delaying her departure for the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.

A senior naval source told the Daily Mail the carrier’s latest troubles were ‘devastating for morale’. 

This coincides with mounting pressure on Keir Starmer to publish a delayed review into increasing defense spending, which is due next week.

Tensions with the Treasury over money could force another postponement after a year of delays.

Military chief Sir Richard Knighton warned on Thursday of the need to enhance our defensive capabilities as Russia was ‘raising the stakes’ and ‘risking crossing the line’.

On Thursday, Sir Keir pledged that the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP) will finally be published in the next month – as he revealed British intelligence believes Russia could attack a NATO country by the end of the decade.

He told LBC: ‘We do have to be ready, and I’ve always argued that deterrence is the best way to avoid war, but to deter, you have to be ready, and that’s what this is all about.

‘Our intelligence and the intelligence of other countries is that Russia could attack NATO as early as 2030, so that is why we need to be ready.’

Sir Keir said it was his ‘first duty’ to ensure the country can protect itself from attack.

And he warned that spending cuts could be necessary in other areas to fund defense spending.

Ministers have been warned of a £28 billion black hole in defense spending plans, but the Treasury has deemed this unaffordable. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is trying to negotiate a compromise figure of £18 billion down to £15 billion.

But despite the looming deadline, multiple government sources said the funding for the package is still not agreed.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard said Russia was ‘probing, challenging, testing our defenses’ including through ‘cyber attacks or trying to smuggle technology and reckless sabotage and assassination attempts’.

The Chief of the Defence Staff said: ‘In my 35-year career, this is the most dangerous period I have known. 

‘As a consequence, it is important that we enhance the capability and readiness of our Armed Forces alongside our allies to deter our adversaries from doing something foolish.’

The latest breakdown of Britain’s most powerful warship is its most embarrassing yet because it is due to participate in Donald Trump’s celebrations. 

The US President and his defense secretary Pete Hegseth have mocked the Royal Navy as ‘old and broken down’ in recent months.

Last night, defense sources acknowledged a ‘minor technical issue’ had been identified which required the 65,000-tonne carrier to dock in Stavanger.

The mechanical issue is believed to involve the propeller shaft – a recurrent problem for Prince of Wales and her sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth – though this has not been confirmed. 

According to the carrier’s account on X, engineers and logisticians were working ‘tirelessly’ to ‘deliver effective maritime support’.

No details have been released publicly about the fault that was identified on a vital NATO exercise in the High North.

A navy source added: ‘With morale already rock-bottom over defense spending and delays over the DIP, the last thing the Royal Navy needed was HMS Prince of Wales marooned in a Norwegian fjord. 

‘Then, to rub salt into the wounds, it appears the breakdown has been caused by the recurrence of a previous problem.

‘Crucially the Royal Navy took on responsibility for the maintenance of its carriers from the manufacturers without confirming the carriers were entirely seaworthy. So every time there is an issue with the propellers, the taxpayer has to cover the cost.’

In 2024, HMS Queen Elizabeth was withdrawn from a NATO exercise because of propeller issues. 

In 2022, HMS Prince of Wales broke down on the way to joint exercises with the US Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy and had to be towed back to harbor.

The Ministry of Defence said on Thursday: ‘HMS Prince of Wales is currently conducting a port visit to Stavanger.

‘We expect her to set sail in the coming days.’