Engineering news
BAE Systems is to begin procuring the first parts for the UK's next generation of nuclear-armed submarines after being awarded contracts worth £79m by the Ministry of Defence.
The two contracts, worth £47m and £32m, are for long lead items such as structural fittings, electrical equipment, castings and forgings to be used in the “Successor” submarine, which is expected to see operational service from 2028 to the 2060s. The submarines, of which there will be either three or four, will carry the UK's arsenal of trident nuclear missiles, a role currently fulfilled by Vanguard-class submarines.
According to the Ministry of Defence, more than 850 potential British suppliers have been identified as benefiting from investment in the programme and as many as 6,000 people will be involved by the time construction of the submarines reaches a peak. The total cost of the Successor programme is estimated to be between £15 – 20 billion and it will provide work at the Barrow shipyard into the 2030s.
The procurement contracts follow contracts totalling £643m for the design of the submarine given to BAE in 2012, work for which is ongoing at the Barrow-in-Furness site, Cumbria. Around 1300 people currently work on the Successor project at the site.
BAE Systems said the submarines are being designed to be some of the stealthiest in the world. Tony Johns, managing director of BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines, said: “The design of a nuclear-powered submarine is incredibly complex and we continue to make good progress in the engineering phase of the programme. The first submarine is due to be in service by 2028, so to achieve that target it’s essential we begin the procurement process now to ensure we can start construction on time.”
The Successor programme is now in the third year of a five-year design and development phase, during which the submarine’s concept design and operational requirements are being matured into a detailed design. In 2016 the government is expected to make the “main gate” announcement where the main construction contracts and number of submarines will be decided.
The procurement contracts were announced as an annual report on the Successor programme was given to MPs. The report also contained the first pictures of the new submarines to be released to the public.
BAE Systems is looking to recruit more than 300 extra apprentices, A-level leavers and graduates next year to work on Successor and the ongoing construction of the Astute-class submarines.