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Speaking in Govan, Des Browne, the defence secretary, insisted the carriers were "an affordable expenditure" and were not being purchased at the expense of other areas.
"The two aircraft carriers will provide our forces with world-class capabilities ... they will support peacekeeping and conflict prevention, as well as our strategic operational priorities," he said.
Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, the first sea lord, said the ships would provide the UK with a "potent and powerful aircraft carrier force that will deliver air power in support of the full range of future operations at sea, in the air and on the land".
The maritime editor of Jane's defence information group, Jon Rosamond, described the carriers as "four acres of sovereign territory which could sail 400 miles a day".
Other supporters included the chief of air staff, Sir Glenn Torpy, who said the contract marked an important step forward in the Carrier Strike programme. "These ships will provide additional options for projecting offensive air power at a time and place of our choosing, and I look forward to the arrival of both the carriers and the extremely capable Joint Combat Aircraft on the frontline," he said.
But the decision to build such large and expensive aircraft carriers has provoked concern among military officials and analysts at a time when soldiers in Afghanistan are badly in need of better equipment, including helicopters and armoured vehicles, and when there is little hope for an increase in defence spending.
Amyas Godfrey, a former army officer and military commentator, said: "We need the aircraft carriers if we are going to carry on as we are as a nation, but we can't rob Peter to pay Paul."
Critics pointed out that billions of pounds would also have to be spent on US-made F35 Joint Strike Fighters for the carriers. Delays in that programme mean that the carriers will initially have to make do with ageing Harriers.
Andrew Brookes, a former RAF pilot and analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said: "We can't afford the cost of the aircraft carriers, the cost of the Joint Strike Fighters to go on them, and all the replenishment, escort and protecting vessels. We can't afford that without a major increase in funding, which I can't see coming."
Lee Willett, of the Royal United Services Institute, described the carriers as "fundamental to UK plc and protecting its interests on a global scale". He said the problem was the government was not supporting its policies with the money needed to pay for them. "We have a government that wants to be a global power but doesn't have the appetite to pay for it", Willett said.
The HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales are due to enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
Facts and figures
· HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will be nine decks deep and will have flight decks about the size of three football pitches.
· The 65,000-tonne ships will have a crew of about 1,500 and carry up to 40 aircraft - 36 American F35 Joint Strike Fighters and four airborne early warning aircraft.
· The warships will be 280 metres (920ft) long and 70 metres (230ft) wide.
· They will be able to carry more than 8,600 tonnes of fuel.
· They could be in service for 30 years.
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