LONDON, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The British Ministry of Defense (MoD)said on Thursday that it signed three billion pounds (about 6 billion U.S. dollars) contracts over building two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy.

    The contracts were signed with a new British maritime joint venture, formed by BAE Systems and VT Group, called BVT Surface Fleet, and the Aircraft Carrier Alliance onboard existing aircraft carrier and Fleet Flagship HMS Ark Royal at Portsmouth on Thursday, the MoD said in a statement.

    "The future aircraft carriers, to be named HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, will dramatically improve the UK's ability to project expeditionary air power over the coming decades and will be a highly versatile and potent joint defense asset, able to meet the widest range of tasks," said the ministry.

    The carriers were expected to enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively, and once they entered service they were expected to remain in the fleet for at least thirty years, the MoD said.

    "The two aircraft carriers will provide our forces with the world-class capabilities they will need over the coming decades. They will support peace-keeping and conflict prevention, as well as our strategic operational priorities," Defense Secretary Des Browne said.

    "Today's contract signing seals the future for thousands of jobs, and ensures that we will have a Royal Navy fit for the 21st century," he added.