MoD Statement to Parliament on the F-35 Expected before Easter - The headline “Navy aircraft carrier plans hit by further delays” summarises the state we are in regarding the aircraft carrier programme as Britain now seems certain to be left without an aircraft carrier equipped with fighter jets for the next decade even after soaring costs.    The Defence Secretary is reportedly to reconsider plans for up to 50 new fighter jets, which have been billed as the world’s most advanced warplanes, after the government admitted it had no idea what the programme would cost.    The rethink also comes amid fears that a design flaw in the new Joint Strike Fighter makes it unable to land on aircraft carriers according the leaked Pentagon documents found that the aircraft had failed eight simulated landings.    A redesign is likely to prove costly and delay the project.