The multi-million-pound deal with Rolls-Royce Submarines
Limited will provide the support, advice and material
required to ensure the continued safety and availability of
the systems on board the current fleet of Trafalgar,
Vanguard and Astute class submarines until 2022. The
contract will sustain around 500 UK jobs.
During the visit to Rolls-Royce’s site in Raynesway,
Derbyshire, the Defence Secretary also announced that HMS
Warspite will be the name of third Dreadnought submarine.
Defence Secretary said:
This year we mark half-a-century since British
nuclear-armed submarines began their continuous patrol of
waters around the world. This significant milestone for
the Royal Navy would not be possible without the skills
and ingenuity of our industry partners who supply and
maintain equipment.
Rolls-Royce plays a critical role in supporting our
submarines and I’m pleased this contract will sustain 500
highly-skilled jobs that help protect our country.
The name Warspite goes back to 1595 and was the last ‘great
ship’ to be built during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Warspite has been carried by eight Royal Navy vessels. The
last being the UK’s third nuclear submarine, which operated
for over 20 years at the height of the Cold War.
In December 2018, the Defence Secretary announced a £400m
funding boost for the Dreadnought programme alongside a
£25m BAE Systems academy that will upskill employees
working on Royal Navy submarines. The continued progress of
the £31bn Dreadnought programme ensures the protection and
defence provided by the UK’s nuclear deterrent for decades
to come. The Dreadnought Class submarines will enter
service in the 2030s.
Submarine Delivery Agency CEO, Ian Booth said:
This contract is vital to enable the continued safety and
readiness of the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines, and its
signing demonstrates the ongoing successful partnership
between the Submarine Delivery Agency and industry.
2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Continuous at Sea
Deterrent and we look forward to continuing to work with
our suppliers to support this national endeavour.
The new Nuclear Propulsion Lifetime Management contract
will provide vital support to the delivery of the
Continuous at Sea Deterrent, which reaches the 50th
anniversary milestone this year. The jobs sustained by this
contract will be predominantly at Rolls-Royce in Derby and
satellite offices at HMNB Clyde and HMNB Devonport.
The contract forms part of a wider suite of contracts with
Rolls-Royce to provide naval reactor plant design, support,
advice and components to the submarine build programme and
provide enabling services such as infrastructure and IT.
Rolls-Royce Submarines President, Steve Dearden said:
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Continuous At Sea
Deterrence and the 60th year of Rolls-Royce involvement
in the naval nuclear propulsion programme. The NPLM
contract will enable the continuation of our close work
with the SDA to deliver Submarine operations for the
Royal Navy.
This new contract includes exciting innovative technology
employing Rolls-Royce’s digital capability which will
enhance the service we provide and we look forward to
continuing our support for the next 50 years.
