The MOD has negotiated a new £1.4 billion contract for
the Royal Navy’s new attack submarine, the sixth in a total fleet
of seven, which will protect the UK’s new aircraft carriers and
nuclear deterrent.
The submarine, named Agamemnon, is part of the Astute Class, the
largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines ever
to enter service with the Royal Navy. The submarines are being
built by BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, which employs
around 8,000 people in its Submarines business, with thousands
more working in the UK submarine supply chain.
The new contract guarantees a better deal for the UK taxpayer and
for the Armed Forces, with an incentivised contract arrangement
that will help to save money and demands the best possible work
from industry.
Defence Secretary Sir said:
This latest investment means we are well on our way to
completing our fleet of Astute submarines. These are the
most advanced submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy
and are already providing unprecedented levels of stealth and
attack capability across the world.
Backed by a rising defence budget and a £178 billion equipment
plan, Barrow will remain the hub of our submarine build
programmes providing high skilled jobs for years to come.
Construction of the 7,400 tonne, 97-metre long Agamemnon began in
2012, and is well underway in the Devonshire Dock Hall at Barrow,
alongside Boat 5 – Anson – and the yet-to-be-named Boat 7. Their
sister submarines, HMS Astute, Ambush and Artful are already in
service with the Royal Navy, contributing to operations around
the globe.
Rear Admiral Paul Methven, Director Submarines Acquisition for the
Submarine Delivery Agency, said:
The signature of this contract secures another world-class
nuclear submarine for the Royal Navy. These are the most
technologically advanced submarines we have ever operated,
offering much greater firepower, better communications and more
advanced stealth technology than their predecessors.
Today marks another significant milestone for the Astute
programme, that demonstrates the UK’s ability to deliver
complex engineering projects, providing a fleet of submarines
which will protect the UK’s interests around the globe.
Featuring the latest nuclear-powered technology, the Astute Class
submarines can circumnavigate the world submerged, manufacturing
the crew’s oxygen from seawater as they go. They also have the
ability to operate covertly and remain undetected in almost all
circumstances despite being 50 per cent bigger than the Royal
Navy’s current Trafalgar Class submarines which are being
replaced by the Astute Class.
Will Blamey, Managing Director of BAE Systems Submarines, said:
Securing the contract for the sixth Astute class submarine is a
significant milestone for BAE Systems and the result of many
years of hard work by our highly skilled workforce. The Astute
class submarines are amongst the most highly capable and
technologically advanced in the world and we’re immensely proud
to build them for the Royal Navy.
Alongside work on the Astute Class, BAE Systems is also the
industrial lead for the Dreadnought programme, the Royal Navy’s
next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines.
