At an event that marked the keel laying of HMS Formidable, Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie turned to another development he argued signals Rosyth’s growing weight in global defence manufacturing: the decision by US shipbuilding giant HII to expand its partnership with Babcock for work on Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines.
Downie told workers the announcement was nothing short of transformative for the yard’s international standing.
“Today’s news that HII are choosing to deepen their strategic partnership with Babcock to support the Virginia-class submarine construction programme is fantastic news for Rosyth and for Scotland’s defence manufacturing sector.”
He linked the deal to a rising tempo of major wins for the dockyard. “Over the last 18 months, the Rosyth dockyard has secured a series of major defence contracts, and today’s announcement reinforces its position at the very forefront of global shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing.”
Throughout his remarks, Downie stressed that international confidence was built on the workforce itself. “This success is entirely down to the world-class skills, dedication and innovation of the workforce. Their expertise is recognised not just here at home, but now by our international partners as well, as demonstrated by the trust that the United States of America has placed in the Babcock workforce.”
For Rosyth, the HII partnership promises long-term, highly specialised work producing advanced assemblies for one of the most sophisticated submarine classes in the world. Downie framed it as both economic and strategic uplift. “I welcome this contract as a vote of confidence in Rosyth’s capabilities to deliver advanced assemblies, and as a significant boost for skilled jobs and our local economy.”
Rosyth, he argued, is no longer only a national asset. It is becoming a trusted node within the defence industrial networks of Britain’s closest allies.
He’s right – and people need to appreciate this – The decision to ensure Rosyth rose again as part of the UK National Shipbuilding Strategy is paying dividends with more good news to come soon I expect
At least we now have a rebuilding defence supply chain with exports of both designs and finished ships which is a remarkable turn around.
The biggest problem is having the capacity to build anything for RN – that will be the next excuse that exports have to take priority.
I’m still, honestly, concerned about the pre outfitting of the blocks and how long it is taking to get the finished ships fitout out. That is a knowledge and skills issue.
It is – and I dont underestimate the challenges both Babcock and BAES and the other suppliers have in ramping up to meet demand – on time and cost. But its a challenge worth tackling.
Well said
* addressed to David
I do very much hope the U.S. starts to see sense and again really embrace the US European alliance ( NATO)..at a time the U.S. European consensus is falling apart and the U.S. seems to be falling under the illusion of a Russian US rapprochement, Russia is working with chine to undertake joint penetrations of the South Korean air defence zone with strategic air power… the US needs to realise its not going to get Russian support in the pacific and its very very likely Russia will throw directly in with china if a indopacific war kicks off.
The problem is that The Tangerine seems to believe the inner echos in his Maga Head rather than pay any attention to objective facts.
What Pete Hegseth actually believes is hard to fathom as I also think he is dangerously clueless.
There is something disconcerting about seeing Putin manipulate The Tangerine so easily and obviously – it isn’t even subtle.
Weeks are spent moving The Tangerine’s position on UKR and one chat with Putin changes him to Russian talking points. Really weird.
The anti-Europe sentiment isn’t republican, hence why there is zero pushback for it in the United States. It started with Obama after the 2008 crisis when European defense spending took a back seat to everything.
It is weird but I’m convinced Putin has an awful lot of leverage, be it dodgy film and video in compromising scenarios but if not certainly respecting suspect business with dodgy Russian Oligarchs. It’s pretty widely suspected now that Epstein passed on damning information on a range of people, especially Trump to Russian connections, particularly after the property deal that Trump as he saw it cheated him out of and within a year sold on at great profit to a Russian oligarch.
Equally I am convinced though beyond naive, Trump and co have taken on the policy as propagated by some no nothing competitor of his for the a Republican Presidential nomination, that the prime foreign policy should be to drive Russia away from China through offering transactional business opportunities as Jonathan mentions above. You can see the attraction to the US because they are chilled at the thought of having to take them both on at the same time. But it’s delusional, of course Putin will hint at better alignment with the US he like India and others want to keep options open but if he is playing Chess Trump is u knowingly playing jenga except only Putin and Xi are deciding what blocks to remove, Europe being the biggest. Russia can’t dump China whatever he might tell Trump, simply because he needs China for its technology and economic activity and it needs to keep China happy because China wants its land back which covers most of what Russia prizes in its Eastern seaboard. China could take those whenever it wanted (unless it promotes a nuclear conflict) but clearly is playing the longer game while making Russia increasingly reliant upon it. So yes Putin wants far wider trade with the US to try to counter that, but not at the expense of offering total support and loyalty to China whenever it comes to the test. I mean who the hell would think the US Trump or otherwise would come to their aid in a dispute with CHina, Putin knows full well what the US is up to, he is encouraging it, playing footsy but as usual play Trump for the idiot he is. All this will do is strengthen Russia, give it more scope and allow it to turn Europe into an effective and manipulated war zone. After Trump’s now established wish to destroy the EU and allow Europe to expend its wealth fending off Russia and becoming less competitive as an economic rival to its benefit he is creating something that in his and his Country’s arrogance they have no idea where it ends, but it won’t be positive for them even as he uses us as cannon fodder for Putin to stay occupied with… for a while and loses much needed allies in the process. Epstein said Trump was an no nothing idiot out side of real estate, now he’s merely proving it as he treats the World as just a number of giant real estate deals.
they seems to be some whisperings that Trump is cooling to Hegseth. lets see what happens
I wonder what part of the Virginia Block VI subs Babcock Rosyth will be building and if that build would or could be used in the RN/RAN SSN build. I suppose it will also mean a increase in security.
Do you think the USN might be interested in a licence build of the AH14O/T31 for replacement of the Constellation class or, even the T26?