Defence Secretary Liam Fox hailed the future of the UK's defence capabilities as he cut the first steel for an aircraft carrier.

Parts for HMS Prince of Wales – the second of the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers – were cut in a ceremony at the BAE Systems shipyard in Govan, Glasgow.

Dr Fox started the computer-guided laser to cut the first piece of hull for the 65,000-tonne ship, the largest to be built for the Royal Navy.

He also met members of the workforce as he toured the facility.

Dr Fox said: "We are committed to delivering this next generation of powerful British aircraft carriers that will mark a step change in our carrier strike capability and form the cornerstone of the Royal Navy's future force 2020. This major construction project is creating and sustaining thousands of jobs."

The 280-metre vessel, along with its sister HMS Queen Elizabeth, survived last autumn's defence review despite massive cuts elsewhere in the Ministry of Defence budget.

The new carriers are being built by an alliance of BAE, Babcock, Thales UK and the Ministry of Defence.

Both will have nine decks, plus a flight deck the size of three football pitches.

Each carrier will have two propellers weighing 33 tonnes – nearly two and half times as heavy as a double decker bus – producing a maximum speed of more than 25 knots.

Both vessels will be converted to accommodate Joint Strike Fighter jets.

Second Sea Lord Vice-Admiral Charles Montgomery, who also attended the ceremony, said: "They will be able to undertake a wide range of tasks, including support to peacekeeping operations and delivery of humanitarian aid in times of crisis."

Mick Ord, managing director of BAE Systems' Surface Ships business, said: "This is a proud day for our workforce."