The decision to put an RAF officer who has never served at sea in charge of the Royal Navy's £6.2billion aircraft carrier project has been described as 'barking mad'.

Former Navy chief Lord West of Spithead claims the appointment of Air Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier will 'make Britain and international laughing stock'.

Sir Hillier will be responsible for the two new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers - the largest British warships ever built, designed to maintain security for the UK and overseas.

Slammed: Former Navy chief Lord West of Spithead (right) claims the appointment of Air Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier (left) is 'barking mad'

The systems of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of the two carriers, are now being tested and in 2016 the ship will be handed over to the Royal Navy for Sea trials.

It is expected to come into service in 2012. The second, HMS Prince of Wales, is currently under construction.

Sir Hillier will also be responsible for more than 20 F-35 jets and Merlin helicopters.

Aircraft carrier: The systems of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of the two carriers, are now being tested

'The decision to appoint an RAF officer with no experience of naval warfare is entirely barking mad,' Lord West said last night, as reported by the Daily Star Sunday.

'I'm sure the air marshal is a very good bloke but he has never served at sea, has no experience of naval operations or maritime warfare and that beggars belief.'