Upper Block 07 is where HMS Prince of Wales will be commanded atop the flight deck and is known as the Forward Island. As the main hub of the ship it contains the bridge and approximately 100 vital mission systems compartments.
The Forward Island has been under wraps in Govan since construction on the section began in December 2013, but it is now visible from the west end of Glasgow.
Mick Ord, managing director at BAE Systems Naval Ships, said: "This is a fantastic milestone for HMS Prince of Wales as its Forward Island is delivered ahead of schedule and to an exceptional standard of engineering. It's a proud day for everyone on the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier programme and an important reminder of their tremendous dedication and skill in naval engineering."
The Queen Elizabeth Class are the first aircraft carriers to use a twin island design. The second 'Aft Island' operates as an airport control tower to co-ordinate aircraft movements, but both islands are designed with the ability to incorporate the other's role in an emergency, thus increasing the survivability of the ship.
The Forward Island has deck-to-deck windows, which are up to 2m tall to ensure a level of visibility far beyond previous aircraft carriers and are designed to withstand a significant impact, such as a helicopter's spinning rotor blade.
