Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, has announced that construction has begun on the UK’s new nuclear submarines with the commencement of Delivery Phase I.
The £1.3Bn of new investment is being undertaken with BAE Systems as part of the Successor project. The next phase of works has commenced, with the manufacturing work beginning on structural steel for the auxillary machine space of the first submarine. This contains switchboards and control panels for the reactor.
Part of the investment includes further design work on the new submarines, as well as purchasing materials and long lead items, while investment will also be made at BAE Systems Barrow-in-Furness yard, where the submarines are being constructed.
Mr Fallon will take part in a ceremonial event next week, where the first steel will be ‘cut’ by him at the yard, marking the start of programme, which will see the UK defence industry involved from supply to manufacture.
The investment is part of the UK’s £178 billion equipment plan, the programme will be supported by a defence budget that will rise every year until the end of the decade, meeting the NATO commitment to spend two per cent of GDP on defence.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “Britain’s ballistic missile submarines are the ultimate guarantee of our nation’s safety – we use them every day to deter the most extreme threats.
“We cannot know what new dangers we might face in the 2030s, 2040s and 2050s so we are acting now to replace them.
“Along with increasing the defence budget to buy new ships, planes and armoured vehicles, this shows that this Government will never gamble with our national security.”
Tony Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support organisation, said: “A central part of this nation’s Defence, the Successor submarines will protect each and every one of us, as well as future generations.
“The Successor programme is the MOD’s biggest project and it will require team work, tremendous skill, commitment from our industrial partners and the UK supply chain, and close collaboration with our US allies to deliver it successfully.”
Image: Artist impression of Successor craft Crown Copyright
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BAE Systems continuous at sea deterrent DE&S Defence Michael Fallon MOD NATO Nuclear submarine Successor
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