Navy planning for two new aircraft carriers March 14, 2005 SECRET discussions have been held with ship builders about equipping two large new Australian warships with fighter aircraft. The Royal Australian Navy plans to buy two $800 million, 25,000 tonne amphibious ships by 2010. A push is under way to give the vessels the capacity to carry eight or more so-called short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fighters. The aircraft would cost about $6 million more than the $70 million price tag for the conventional joint strike fighters (JSF) being purchased for the RAAF. The Government wants to buy up...