Defence Secretary reveals £4 billion for the UK's new hunter-killer submarines and support for Kosovo

• Today at CPC Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced massive investment into the future of our nation’s attack submarines.
• £4 billion cash injection will support thousands of British jobs across the UK.
• Shapps also pledged his support for the British defence industry in the wake of sustained criticism from activist ESG investors.

Today, Grant Shapps announced £4 billion investment to progress the development of the largest, most advanced, and most powerful attack submarines in the Royal Navy’s History.

Working with leading British businesses BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Babcock, today’s announcement is a major milestone in the Conservatives’ long-term plan to enhance our nation’s defences.

As the global outlook becomes more dangerous by the day, the AUKUS partnership, and the submarines we are building in British shipyards, are a strong demonstration of how this Conservative government is taking the long-term decisions needed to give us a strategic advantage against competitors and protect the British people.

The British-led design of these new nuclear-powered and conventionally armed hunter-killer submarines will deliver boats capable of keeping the UK and our allies at the cutting edge of submarine warfare for decades to come – they will be larger than the Royal Navy’s 7,400-tonne Astutes and packed with next-generation sensors and weaponry. 

The funding will also secure the future of British submarine building and support thousands of local jobs in areas such as Barrow-in-Furness where the UK submarines will be built and in Derby where reactor build facilities will be developed and expanded to meet the requirements of the build programme. 

Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps said:

“This multi-billion-pound investment in the AUKUS submarine programme will help deliver the long term hunter-killer submarine capabilities the UK needs to maintain our strategic advantage and secure our leading place in a contested global order.

“And whilst those on the left call for our defence industry to be defunded, today the Conservatives are giving British defence businesses the backing and contracts needed to help them defend our freedom, support our Armed Forces and grow the economy”

In his first Conference speech as Defence Secretary, Shapps also called out left wing pacifists and activist ESG investors for trying to defund the British defence industry and pledged that the Conservatives will back British defence businesses who support 200,000 jobs and are vital to defending our freedom. 

Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems’ Chief Executive, said

"We’re incredibly proud of our role in the delivery of this vitally important, tri-nation submarine programme. 

"This funding reinforces the Government’s support to our UK submarine enterprise and allows us to mature the design, and invest in critical skills and infrastructure to support our long-term national security."

Steve Carlier, President – Rolls-Royce Submarines, said: 

“This is a truly exciting time for our business, with work secured that will see us support UK and Australian submarines well into the second half of this century. It will see thousands of jobs created across the UK supply chain, many of which here in Derby, and we’re proud to be playing our part in this international endeavour. 

For over 60 years we have provided the power to the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines and our site expansion plans, supported by this new contract, are the first step in helping Australia acquire their own nuclear propulsion attack submarine capability, while showcasing British innovation and expertise on the world stage.”

David Lockwood, Babcock CEO, said:

“Babcock is proud to draw on our considerable experience of complex submarine in-service support and maintenance to maximise the operational potential of this future class. We look forward to working alongside MOD and our enterprise partners to support the UK Royal Navy’s submarine fleet of the future.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors: 

• The signing of the Detailed Design and Long Leads (D2L2) Phase with BAE Systems (BAES), Rolls-Royce and Babcock Marine, totalling £4 billion, will progress the programme through the design, prototyping and purchase of main long lead components for the first UK submarines, allowing construction to commence in the coming years and ensuring the stability and resilience of our domestic supply chain.
• The D2L2 contracts will be funded entirely by the UK, as it supports the UK’s domestic requirements.
• This contract is a new investment from the Government into the SSN-AUKUS programme, and is representative of our commitment to British industry, our trilateral partners, and the security of our nation.

Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps has announced the deployment of hundreds of soldiers to Kosovo in support of NATO’s peacekeeping mission amid rising regional tensions.

The activation of the 1st Battalion of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment follows a request from NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe after the situation in northern Kosovo deteriorated in recent weeks.

Hundreds of extra troops will begin deploying from the UK in the coming days to join 400 British soldiers already in Kosovo. They will conduct operations under NATO’s command and mandate, ensuring the safety and freedom of all peoples in Kosovo.

This deployment is a powerful demonstration of this Conservative government’s unwavering commitment to NATO and peace in Europe. It is only possible because we are taking the long-term decisions needed to keep our nation and our alliance safe – with our record defence investment enabling the UK’s rapid deployment capabilities.

Announcing the deployment, the Defence Secretary said:

“The rapid deployment of troops to Kosovo is a powerful demonstration of our Armed Forces unparalleled capabilities and expertise. They will add immense value to the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, helping to calm rising tensions in the region and keeping all peoples safe.

“As Conservatives, we will always put our nations’ security first and that means our support for NATO is unwavering. It’s why when NATO asked the UK to step up we answered the call and I know our service men and women will now carry out their mission with valour”

Under the Conservatives we are taking the long-term decision needed to put the UK at the heart of NATO – contributing to every mission and as the largest defence spender in Europe we remain one of the only nation’s to exceed the alliance’s vital 2% spending target.

Our steadfast commitment to our allies has also been demonstrated by the planned deployment of RAF Typhoons to Poland. Landing today, British pilots will join in exercises with Polish and other allied air forces in a powerful display of NATO’s commitment to defencing democracy. 

The deployment occurs after a request from Poland ahead of their elections this month and amid growing concerns of Russian interference in democratic processes.