Astute Class nuclear subs reach milestones

Work starts on HMS Agamemnon as Astute and Ambush near completion

The UK’s submarine capability has taken a step forward today with work beginning on the Royal Navy’s sixth Astute Class submarine.

The keel, which is the first part of the boat to be built, has been laid for HMS Agamemnon at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.

The move comes on the same day as Ministry of Defence announced that the first two of the seven submarines, HMS Astute and HMS Ambush, are nearing completion of their sea trials. The two vessels have now been handed over to the Royal Navy where they will be prepared for operational service.

Defence minister Phillip Dunne said: “The keel laying of the sixth submarine, Agamemnon, and the handover of HMS Astute and HMS Ambush to the Royal Navy are huge milestones reflecting significant progress in the programme."

Dunne also announced the signing of a contract between the Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems.

The eight-year deal underpins an existing arrangement between the MoD and industry, known as the Submarine Enterprise Performance Programme, which aims to improve performance, reduce costs and develop a sustainable submarine enterprise, delivering overall programme savings of £900m.

Dunne commented: "By ensuring the UK’s submarine programme remains affordable, this new contract will help deliver the Astute Class and pave the way for the future Successor nuclear deterrent submarines and secure around 5,000 jobs at BAE Systems and thousands more who work in over 400 suppliers across the UK submarine supply chain.”

The seven Astute Class submarines are being built by BAE for the Royal Navy to replace the Trafalgar Class submarines.

The Astute Class has greater firepower, state of the art communications equipment and advanced stealth technology making them quieter than their predecessors and harder to detect.

Astute class facts:

• Submarine is constructed from over a million components.
• The vessels are 97metres long and weigh 7,400 tonnes.
• The nuclear plant is more complex than that of a power station.
• The submarines do not to require refuelling throughout their 25 year lifespan.
• They can strike at targets up to 1,000 km from the coast, with pinpoint accuracy.
• The sonar suite has the processing power of 2,000 computers.
• Astute class is capable of circumnavigating the globe without surfacing.
• The submarines are one of the first to be designed in an entirely three-dimensional, computer-aided environment.