Work has started at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness as part of a £300m investment in preparation for the UK’s next generation of Trident missile carrying nuclear submarines.
Prime Minister David Cameron had previously confirmed that Britain will order four new Successor nuclear submarines to replace the Vanguard class vessels currently in use.
The work begins at the Central Yard Complex and is the first step of the site’s redevelopment which will be ready for use by the end of 2017.
Project manager Phil Aspden said:
“The commencement of the Central Yard Complex work is the culmination of three years’ planning and preparation. It marks a milestone as the first major development on the site in many years.
The 10-strong BAE Systems project team, who all have roots in the local area, are committed to delivering a building which will secure submarine boat building capability in the yard for the next 25 years and beyond. The Central Yard Complex is the first major development within the shipyard as part of the eight-year site redevelopment programme.”
Trident carrying Successor is now in the detailed design stage and it is expected to begin delivery in 2028. It is expected to be the most technologically advanced submarine in the history of the Royal Navy, the name of the class has not yet been revealed.
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Hi Sandy, how can we help?
The Government intends to order the subs, but the Trident replacement hasn’t been debated through parliament yet. Is this a bit premature ?
I wouldn’t say so, the government have a majority and as such wouldn’t have an issue given the projected support for the system among MP’s if there was to be a vote. It should be noted however that they are under no legal or constitutional obligation to debate the replacement, let alone hold a vote.
Personally I see it as an obscene waste of money. I would also consider it undemocratic if the government did not debate the replacement
It’s needed. Imagine one day if Russia or China decide to attack us. Our defence is already fairly small in comparison to what they could attack with. Nuclear deterrent is definitely not a waste of money especially given how unstable the world seems at the moment. One can only hope we never need to use it l.
They’ll debate it, it’s not necessary to do so though.
What price freedom? Personally we should invest in carrying a big stick but walking softly
I agree with you James. I think that’s what we try and do. If you want peace prepare for war…
And why would Russia or China attack us ?
You can apply that logic to any major conflict and you’ll have your answer. Russia under Putin is a dangerous place which is prepared to push around anyone who is weak enough not to fight back.
I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
It’s needed. Doesn’t mean we need to ever use it hopefully but stops any countries wanting to attack us
I know there designed solely for the nuclear deterrent but it’s a shame they couldn’t be multi role seeing as we’ve got so few subs!
I agree, I don’t understand why they can’t…could convert all our subs to be multi role surely make more sense
Didn’t the USN convert some of the Ohio SSBN’s to Tomahawk carriers?
If we have to use these they’ve not been much of a deterrent. And everyone on the planet would be dead anyway.
Well, that’s kind of the point isn’t it? To stop that kind of thing.
No, because having the weapons in the first place increases the risk of using them.
I’d rather we hit back hard, it is a deterrent and I don’t know how you can’t say it isn’t
Because if we use it it hasn’t worked as a deterrent. It also didn’t stop Argentina invading British territory did it.
We kicked their arses though?
So wasn’t a deterrent ?
Sandy, nuclear deterrents exist to deter nuclear aggression not conventional conflicts.
Indeed, what would have stopped Argentina according to their naval commander after the was the Ark Royal, gunboat diplomacy is one of the reasons the new Queen Elizabeth class may come in handy in that respect.
So even with Trident we are at risk from a conventional Russian or Chinese attack ?
The only country to have used nuclear aggression is America. Perhaps we should be deterring them ?
Why would the US want to attack the UK? We hold similar values and have a long relationship based on trust. We do not have that trust with China and Russia. China at least is stable; Russia is not!
I’m not sure why the “even” qualifier is necessary, no one has ever said the system is designed to deter conventional conflict. I will point out too that those nations do not have the power projection capability to launch an effective conventional assault against the UK.
Damn right they don’t
Sandy, was that a serious question? We both know that the global proliferation of the weapons doesn’t boil down to who used them first, I sincerely hope you’re joking.
The point is, why do we need them ? Our ‘perceived’ enemy is who ? It is fact that the only country to aggressively use nuclear weapons is America. The idea that nuclear weapons make us ‘safe’ is incredibly naive
The U.S. did use them first yes. The reasons why have been debated long and hard ever since. I hold it that when a c-in-c weighs up his options his own casualties must be accounted for in terms of deciding when how or where. The decision was taken. Since then, apart from testing no one, including the Americans, having seen the results of the first miniscule (by todays terms) atom bomb, have decided to go again. Then though we lived in a world where the nuclear club all played basically by the same rules. Even the Soviets. Today the world is very different. There are emerging nuclear powers who do not play by the old rules. Some of them just plain don’t like us. I’d rather hold on to my shield thanks.
On the contrary, the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction is a sound strategic concept with decades of proof and case studies. Many of our team, including myself the social media manager, don’t back renewal but to deny their strategic use is dishonest.
Be cheaper to deliver a nuclear response by DHL and build a decent fleet for the threats that already exist.IMHO
Hahaha ?
I believe we should have more of these, they are a deterrent imo, and we should not be short in coming to use them when required. Also, would make people think twice about launching an attack on UK if we do have a decent and effective military. All of our stocks should be built up with the latest equipment instead of things coming through on UOR’s when the shit hits the fan. Defence equipment doesn’t just grow on trees
i am not a fan of nuclear weapons….but we live in a world where other countries have or are looking at nuclear power…it,s only right we keep ours,heaven forbid north korea grows some nuts and does what it,s been shouting about because i don,t think for one minute they would go conventional they would push the button,plus you have russia flexing it,s muscles i don,t think they would use them but god knows what goes on in putins mind…
Do you think they will finish building them on time.
What constitutes a ‘multi role’ submarine in your opinion? As both the SSBNs and SSNs have an ASW and Land Attack capability albeit on a different scale, it is after all a question of scale, an SSBN by necessity is over twice the size of an SSN to accommodate the weapon system, it must also operate submerged for its entire patrol, whereas the SSN can do this but the duration and nature of their deployments differ considerably, including port visits to replenish supplies and to allow personnel some down time. The purpose of the SSBN precludes this.
Nice looking Submarin and means business.
Might need them, the way things are going.
I more concerned about internal or home grown terrorists than Russia.
You’re telling me…
I do agree with you there David.
Sandy,
Can you assure me that Saddam did not fear a limited retaliation in the first gulf conflict if he used his chemical weapons. Recall please he WOULD use them, people tend to think others think in a similar manner to themselves. Additionally our own forces recovered Kuwait in the knowledge we had the capability to deter him. So in essence Trident WAS used. As it IS used every day.