The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) has detailed progress in its Dreadnought and SSN-A submarine programmes.
HMS Dreadnought, the first of the next-generation strategic deterrent submarines, reached a key milestone with the completion of its largest structural segment, referred to as a “mega unit.”
This substantial section was transported through Barrow-in-Furness to the Devonshire Dock Hall, a prominent feature of the town’s skyline. The SDA emphasised this achievement as evidence of “the ongoing advancement of the Dreadnought programme.”
Progress was also highlighted within the Astute programme, with the SDA reporting a Review Note submitted for final approval in March 2024. The agency stated that “robust performance metrics” have driven improvements, noting that collaboration with BAE Systems continues to stabilise the programme, mitigate risks, and capitalise on opportunities.
However, the report acknowledged the complexities involved, including “the significance of the ‘last of Class’ risk,” which will require focused effort in the final years of the programme.
The SSN-A programme, representing a cornerstone of the AUKUS trilateral pact between the UK, the US, and Australia, also achieved a critical milestone. Entering its detailed design and long lead procurement phase, the programme secured £4 billion in contracts to propel development of the next generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines.
The SDA described this as a “pivotal moment not only for the UK but also for the trilateral AUKUS programme,” reaffirming the collective effort to advance cutting-edge naval capabilities.
Nuclear in core budget is squeezing the life out of conventional defence.
After all the cuts on supposed “sunset” capabilities, even if we start recently with Tornado, and still there isn’t the money.
Add GCAP at 12 billion just to develop the plane, and AUKUS.
If SSN numbers still and up at 7, or even 8 or 10, and the RAF has 100 Tempest, we will still be here screaming numbers are too small.
The MIC meanwhile is laughing all the way to the bank.
The UK (and the rest of ENATO) might actually be capable of acquiring and maintaining a reasonably robust conventional capability w/ a defence budget of 2.5% of GDP. Acquiring and maintaining an additional nuclear deterrent w/ the same budget, w/out continual, substantial, conventional capability compromises, is very probably a fiscal impossibility. The US is struggling to maintain capabilities w/ a 3+% of GDP budget. Reasonably certain that somewhere w/in HMG bureaucracy, realistic requirements budget estimates exist. It would be an invaluable service to the country, if real estimates were officially published, or even leaked to credible press organization(s). Democracy has… Read more »
Problem is due to the vagaries of the US political system and an undeniable movement towards isolationism ENATO can no longer rely on the USA to provide strategic assets like nuclear. At the end of the day strategic assets like nuclear and space are more important for defence than tactical assets.
Absolutely! Especially when you deal with the Russians or China. Mutual assured destruction doctrine is one of the few things they accept and understand.
Can’t disagree with you M8, but as the U.K. made a conscious decision in the early 60’s to sacrifice conventional to pay for CASD at any cost then sorry but we are stuffed. All Mr Public (or semi literate politicians) sees is are 4 Nuclear Submarines and can’t understand why the entire bill is so astronomically high. It’s a bit like a spear the tiny pointy bit will kill you, but behind it is huge muscly, well trained fed and equipped human who eventually needs replacing. Part of the issue right now is we have reshafted our spear twice, but… Read more »
Good summation of why it cost allot to run CASD. However bang for buck it’s the most cost effective. You could have 100 divisions but if you have no nuclear weapons you will last 5 minutes against. Russia. We spend £60 billion a year so £40 billion over a 30 year build and operate period is small potatoes.
When we look at other weapon systems costs like typhoon we don’t factor in life time weapons, fuel, airbase costs etc.
CASD and SSN’s also go hand in hand and are our two main strategic capabilities.
More progress should be made to plan for the dismantling of ALL of the neuclear hulks that are currently littering our dockyards
After 60 years of inactivity it is now actually being done at Rosyth and Devonport, so 🤞🏻 they should get cracking through them. The missing bit is a secure, long term storage site, the Fins have shown the world how it can be done and at a reasonable cost.
It just needs the political will power.
Eskmeals was the suggested site I recall.
The procurement and maintenance of the Stategic deterrent should be in a seperate pot to the conventional armed forces ( I include attack boats in that category). That is how it was before we had the accounting games of Cameron Osborne to hide the fact we were spending far less than the stated 2%. Starmer states of our unwavering support for Ukraine. Something I fully agree with but it should not be taken out of the MoD budget. And yes we need to character on year progression to 3%. I suggest the foreign aid budget is a good target until… Read more »
The foreign aid budget is all but gone. First cut to 0.5% and most the money being sent to Ukraine or being used to house asylum seekers in the UK.
Ok what is the status of HMS Agincourt after the BAE submarine yard fire 10-30-2024? Did the anechoic flammable rubber tiles attached to the outer hull indeed catch fire? Was it caused by an exploding sandblaster at midnight? Is Russian interference truly ruled out? If the fire reached 1300+ F degrees, could it have damaged the thinner outer steel hull? Why is there no f/u from MOD/BAE/news or news organizations?
Jim,
Agreed, current and proposed defence expenditures simply do not permit a full spectrum military. Choices are stark, either increase the budget appropriately, or accept capability gaps/deficiencies. Another option could be a significant reduction of mission.. Concentrate resources solely on home islands defence. Abandon any pretence of expeditionary capability. The Japanese have not only survived, but thrived, for eighty years, as a self-defense force.