The UK government has announced the awarding of contracts worth £4 billion, marking significant progress for the AUKUS submarine programme.
These contracts will entrust UK businesses with the design and manufacture of what are to be the world’s most advanced submarines.
The Ministry of Defence highlighted that the “Detailed Design and Long Leads (D2L2) Phase” contracts have been signed with renowned defence and engineering firms including BAE Systems (BAES), Rolls-Royce, and Babcock. This collaboration will pave the way to construct the next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarines, which will be recognised as SSN-AUKUS.
A press release states, “The contracts totalling £4 billion will progress the programme through the design, prototyping and purchase of main long lead components for the first UK submarines, allowing construction to commence in the coming years and ensure the stability and resilience of our domestic supply chain.”
This strategic move leverages over six decades of British expertise in the nuclear-powered submarine domain. As the Ministry of Defence emphasised, these contracts are expected to support thousands of skilled jobs, aligning with the Prime Minister’s aim to stimulate the nation’s economy.
The development is also set to expand existing infrastructure to accommodate the project’s requirements. Notably, facilities at the submarine shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness and the nuclear reactor manufacturing site in Raynesway, Derby are slated for enhancement.
The ambitious timeline set by the Ministry targets the deployment of the first UK submarines by the late 2030s, which will subsequently replace the existing Astute-Class vessels. Australia will receive its advanced submarines in the following decade, by the early 2040s. These submar
ines are anticipated to be unparalleled in terms of size, technology, and capability. The release highlights, “They will be the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy, combining world-leading sensors, design and weaponry in one vessel.”
In terms of construction logistics, the UK submarines will mainly be assembled in Barrow-in-Furness. Concurrently, Australia will invest in building its submarine industrial base over the next ten years. Notably, the nuclear reactors for all UK and Australian submarines will be supplied by Rolls-Royce.
If these are long lead time items, then why are we not being told of how many, and why is the Australian order left off?
Hello David, Australia havent been left off of any order, this is just to get the ball rolling so to speak and for contractors to start gearing up with materials/equipment that is going to be required. EG RR will need to start looking at numbers of fuel rods etc and when they will be required to be fitted and such like. Numbers wise, I don’t think that our Govt have decided on final numbers just yet (8 for UK is current belief, but may be 10/12?). Aus wont require any until early 40’s, so, UK RN will most probably receive… Read more »
10 to 12 boats would be fantastic as it really would represent real growth for our SSN fleet. Hopefully it will be possible to take advantage of economy of scale.
8 boats only would truly be an opportunity missed as it really doesn’t shift the needle that much above what we have now with the soon-to-be 7 boat Astute fleet.
Deep,
Curious, is the appropriate ratio of total SSNs to those sustainably continuously deployed 3:1 or 4:1? Evidently 4:1 ratio is appropriate for SSBNs. One SSN assigned to high-readiness CSG, one for GI-UK gap patrol, one for Indo-Pacific and one for detached missions/support of CASD? Decisions re ratios drive multi-billion £ investments. 🤔😳
Afternoon mate, For SSN’s we have always really gone for a 3:1 ratio, despite them operating at a far higher tempo than SSBN’s. Back in the days of the cold war (when we had on average 12 SSN’s 70’s – early 90’s), we had enough SM’s to cover our requirements, including 2 assigned to ‘High North’ work with the US for want of a better explanation. The demise/collapse of the Soviet Union saw our numbers reduced to 7 T boats. However some of our forward tasking also went, so it wouldn’t really have been a problem, save for GW1 and… Read more »
Great explanation mate 👍
Deep, I completely forgot to factor in training/exercise requirements, in addition to operational taskings…duh 🙄! It seems apparent that at least 12 SSN boats would be required for an optimal sol’n for RN. It is probably damnably heretical to suggest both RN and USN consider co-production of some additional latest gen. diesel-electrics w/ a reputable foreign yard, for close in patrol (both UK and US), closed in bodies such as the Med, and shallower areas (e.g. Gulf). Undoubtedly, this would increase logistics, training and manning burdens but may be fiscally more sustainable. Eventually, UUVs may be able/suitable to augment some… Read more »
Morning mate, I also totally forgot to mention that back in the day when we had said 12 SSN’s running around, we also had some 10ish Oberon class SSKs to add to our tasking. They did a lot of the grunt work in the Med/Baltic and further afield as well as supplying assets for training. Might be mistaken, but believe the promotion pathway used to be something like this; Complete/pass Perisher (Lt/Lt. Cdr) CO of O Boat as a Lt. Cdr/Cdr. CO of SSN/SSBN as a Cdr. If we don’t get more than 8 SSN’s, would be extremely happy with… Read more »
Always appreciate cases when a SME is able to substantiate what is essentially a SWAG on my part! 😁👍😊
‘SURF -W’..?
It’s actually SRF -West, or Submarine Rotational Force-West.
The idea is to have 4 SSNs temporarily based out of Perth by 2027 (3×US & 1xUK) in the build up to Aus acquiring their own SSNs. Temporarily basing and rotating SMs in Aus gets round the issues they have with permanent basing SSNs in Aus.
Thanks Deep, appreciate your prompt response.
Oh how I love Civil Service understatement “slated for further enhancement”, it makes it sound like a fresh coat of paint and a new canteen ! The Raynesway site here in Derby is being doubled in size and has to expand outside its land footprint. And that’s besides flattening a lot of old buildings and replacing them with new ones. So more land has been acquired PDQ and a bridge is going to be built over the Railway line to the new Car Parks and other Facilities. I’ve never seen a major industrial uplift like this one, plans published, land… Read more »
Hi folks hope all is well.
I may have missed all relevant information, but have we named the class for these subs? So far I may be wrong, but we just seem to see “AUKUS” is that the class?
Cheers,
George
Hi George,
Not seen or heard anything about naming this new class yet mate. Might well be a few years before we officially hear anything just yet. Having said that, the MOD will probably name the class tomorrow!!!!🤔
We have already had a T class?
I’ll get my coat.
😂
Is this different in substance from the article of two days ago (BAE awarded $4bn for next phase of nuclear submarine project)?
I assume it’s the same contract and the same money.
Meanwhile Australia will probably reduce the T26 order, or even cut it out outright and is now talking about destroyers with 150 missiles (can be a T26 destroyer variant)
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