UK Ministry of Defence, The MoD has placed a £200 million contract with British industry for the construction of a new nuclear powered attack submarine, to be named HMS Audacious.
The 7,800 tonne boat, which will be equipped with the latest cruise missiles, is the fourth of the Astute class, the largest and most powerful attack submarines ever built in Britain for the Royal Navy. Assembly of the submarine is expected to start later this year.
Lord Drayson, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support said:
“Audacious will join the three other submarines of the Astute class already under construction at the BAE Systems shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria.
“Today's announcement demonstrates our commitment to the attack submarine programme, as set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy. It also demonstrates our commitment to the Royal Navy, which needs these submarines to fulfil its duties around the globe. It demonstrates the best of British technology and our determination to develop and transform the UK Submarine industry over the coming years.”
The First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said:
“We need a versatile maritime force across the operational spectrum. Astute forms a key part of this future programme and is designed as a multi role platform. The first of these immensely powerful submarines, HMS Astute, is launched next month and I look forward to her entry into service with her sisters, Ambush and Artful – and now the fourth of the class, Audacious. These boats will help protect Britain's interests overseas for decades to come.”
Background Information
1. The contract placed today with BAE Systems Submarine Solutions will run until the end of March next year and covers initial build work on the submarine. The final contract placed will cover all aspects of the construction and completion of the submarine; it is currently under negotiation and due for finalisation late next year. It comes on top of orders for long-lead items that have already been placed with industry both to prepare the way for the construction of Audacious and to support the industrial infrastructure.
2. The Astute Class will be the largest, most capable and widely deployable attack submarines that the Royal Navy has ever operated, and will replace the Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class, which have been in-service since the 1970s and 1980s respectively. The Astute Class will have improved communications systems to support joint operations and an enhanced ability to operate in shallower littoral environments compared with previous classes.
3. Astute class boats have a maximum dived displacement of 7,800 tonnes, are 97 metres long have a crew of 98 and will be equipped be Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles. They will carry more of these weapons than existing submarines.
4. There have been three warships named Audacious. The first was a 74 gun wooden ship of the line that fought under Nelson at the battle of the Nile in 1801; the second was an ironclad that served on the China station and the third was a First World War battleship serving with the Grand Fleet that was mined and sunk in 1914.
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