Defence contracts worth more than £2 billion have been awarded to
BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce to begin the third major phase of the
future submarine nuclear deterrent programme – Dreadnought.
With the overall programme supporting around 30,000 jobs across
the UK, from design through to build, Delivery Phase 3 (DP3)
represents the most significant stage of the Dreadnought
programme so far. In 2021 alone, it supported around 13,500 jobs
in the Northwest of England and a further 16,300 over the rest of
the UK, making a significant contribution to the Government’s
levelling-up agenda.
The investment is the latest financial commitment between the
Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, and is the
initial investment within a planned overall total of nearly £10
billion for the whole delivery phase.
DP3 will see the first of four submarines, HMS Dreadnought, exit
the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard to begin sea trials, laying the
foundation to sustain the Continuous at Sea Deterrence (CASD) for
as long as the international security situation makes it
necessary.
Defence Procurement Minister, said:
The Dreadnought Class will be crucial to maintaining and
safeguarding our national security, with the nuclear deterrent
protecting every UK citizen from the most extreme threats, every
minute of every day.
Designed in the UK, built in the UK and supporting tens of
thousands of jobs in the UK, the Dreadnought programme is a
leading example of our commitment to defence manufacturing and
will continue to boost British industry for decades to come.
The Dreadnought programme also brings huge benefits to the BAE
Systems’ Submarines Academy for Skills and Knowledge, based at
the Barrow-in-Furness site. Opened in 2018, the academy is
currently training more than 1,050 apprentices and graduates,
with a further 230 craft apprentices, 110 degree apprentices and
90 graduates set to join this year.
Managing Director, BAE Systems Submarines, Steve Timms
said:
We take great pride in designing and delivering one of the
world’s most advanced engineering programmes and helping to
protect national security.
Today’s funding announcement allows us to maintain the
Dreadnought programme’s progress and continue investing in the
infrastructure and skills needed to deliver these highly complex
submarines to the Royal Navy.
The Dreadnought Class will be one of the most complex machines
ever built and it will operate in one of the most hostile
environments on the planet.
As the largest Class of submarine ever built for the Royal Navy,
each will boast 26.4 miles of pipework and more than 20,000
cables stretching 215 miles – further than travelling between
London and Leeds.
President of Rolls-Royce Submarines, Steve Carlier
said:
Since 1969, Rolls-Royce has proudly provided the nuclear power
and expertise that keeps the UK’s continuous nuclear deterrent at
sea. This latest contract is a welcome sign of the UK’s ongoing
commitment to the Submarines Enterprise and all the jobs around
the UK that support it.
The four Dreadnought-Class submarines, each the length of three
Olympic swimming pools, will maintain the CASD, responsible for
safeguarding our national security and way of life, as long as
the international security situation makes it necessary.
First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key said:
We welcome the faith shown in the Royal Navy and our people that
submarines remain the optimum means of securely deploying the
independent nuclear deterrent. This investment will enable the
transition from the Vanguard to Dreadnought-class submarines – an
enormous challenge, and one we in the Royal Navy willingly
accept.
We have provided over fifty years of unbroken Continuous At Sea
Deterrence and we will ensure that the Royal Navy provides the
ultimate guarantee of security for the United Kingdom for the
next five decades and beyond.
Looking ahead, a £160 million contract has been awarded to
Raytheon UK for the Dreadnought crew training at HM Naval Base
Clyde. This will see more high-quality jobs being based on the
Clyde, further highlighting the importance of the base and the
Dreadnought programme to Scotland and the defence of the UK and
its allies.
Chief Executive of Raytheon UK, Jeff Lewis said:
This contract is for a truly transformative submarine training
solution and builds on the success that we have had to date in
transforming the Royal Navy’s training and learning solutions.
Our collaborative working culture and experience in managing
large and complex training programmes will help equip the Royal
Navy with a training capability that underpins the cornerstone of
the UK’s strategic defence capability.
Supporting the UK Government’s levelling-up ambitions, this
contract will support the training and development of the Royal
Navy men and women who will take to the water when HMS
Dreadnought enters service in the early 2030s.
