The French and British defence ministers will give a news conference on Friday following reports that the two countries are to share aircraft carriers, the French government said on Tuesday.

The British daily The Times reported that Paris and London plan to share the use of two British aircraft carriers and one owned by France to save money while maintaining a vessel always at sea for their common defence.

In Paris, the French defence ministry said minister Herve Morin and his British counterpart Liam Fox would hold a news conference in Paris on Friday but declined to comment on recent press reports.

A source close to the matter told AFP that discussions were under way at a political level on possible cooperation on the use of aircraft carriers.

A British defence ministry spokesman called the reports "speculation".