Last week, ahead of the Security and Defence Review, I visited the two new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers being built, at Rosyth's Royal Dockyard near Edinburgh: the first already named HMS Queen Elizabeth and the second soon to be named HMS Prince of Wales.
It was tremendous to meet the talented Royal Navy officers involved in delivering the ships and their truly advanced capability, most of whom will take up operational command of them when they begin to operate later this decade.
There was much to learn about the way different pieces of the ships were being brought together from manufacturing sites in all parts of the United Kingdom and built into amazing fighting assets, and it was inspiring to behold how much of a "national" project this is.
The ships' layouts and systems seemed to be very well engineered and efficient, and designed to be adaptable to many changes that may occur over their 50 year plus lifespan. I believe they are a tribute to British know-how and foresight, and I am confident that this is a very worthwhile investment in the promotion of national security for our children and grandchildren.
I was very happy to hear in the Security and Defence Review that we will be sourcing a greater number of the current cutting edge vertical take off F35B "Lightning" fighter-bomber aircraft from the US to fly from these ships, sooner than previously anticipated.
By 2023, having 48 of these aircraft in service in our Forces will give both carriers the option of a large and key part of the "hard punch" capability that makes them the strategic assets they can be, projecting and defending our values around the world.
And we mustn't forget the roles which Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, made and operated locally, will have on or in association with these carriers - keeping the fleet safe, participating in amphibious manoeuvres, and supporting battle and humanitarian capability at sea and on land.
Having made difficult decisions in the previous Defence Review, and in other areas of public spending, the nation is now better able to afford these investments, and more focused on what they can do for us. We must never forget that the first step to sustainable national security is economic security: having consistent wherewithal to pay for and sustain our capabilities.
That is one reason the economy really matters. In addition to being the sum of all of our aspirations and the opportunities we get individually to make the most of them, the economy's strength enables us to do things like defence together, properly.
At a time like this, when we are having to make difficult decisions about how best to protect our people and our allies from attack, the value of strategic assets such as these carriers comes into relief.
I am proud that whether by maintaining a full complement of strategic nuclear defence assets by full renewal of Trident, or by giving our Forces the ability to project conventional power around the world or at home, this Government is determined to give Britain the strategic sword and shield it needs - to be a key force for good in the world, and protect its citizens at home.