BAE Systems Secures £85 Million Contract for Next-Gen Submarine Development

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has granted BAE Systems an £85 million contract to facilitate preliminary design and conceptual efforts for the Royal Navy’s forthcoming generation of submarines.

This agreement will allow the Company’s Submarines division to advance the initial phases of a project aimed at providing a successor to the Astute class, thus ensuring the UK’s future underwater military capabilities while fostering 250 highly-skilled positions in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

Ben Wallace, the Secretary of State for Defence, commented: “This marks the commencement of a new chapter in submarine advancement, with British designers and engineers spearheading the development of submarines for our Royal Navy.”

“This substantial investment guarantees that this essential capability will be prepared to succeed our Astute class submarines as they exit service, bolstering high-skilled employment across the Midlands and North West of England.”

Ian Booth, CEO of the Submarine Delivery Agency, stated: “While it is premature to ascertain what the capability solution will entail, designing and constructing submarines stands as one of the most intricate and demanding challenges of engineering that the maritime sector undertakes. This endeavor relies on some of the nation’s most seasoned defence nuclear specialists from the outset of the design process.”

Steve Timms, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Submarines division, mentioned: “We take immense pride in our involvement in the nation’s submarine fleet operations, and this contract further enhances our esteemed legacy.”

“As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of our Barrow shipyard, we now have the chance to further fortify our alliance with the Royal Navy well into the future.”

“We anticipate collaborating with our partners and aiding in the realization of another strategically significant and crucial national defense initiative.”

This contract has been sanctioned following the endorsement of a three-year Programme, Definition and Design phase for a capability solution under the MOD’s Maritime Underwater Future Capability (MUFC) programme.

BAE Systems will collaborate with the SDA, Rolls-Royce, Babcock, and other partners on a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarines for the UK Royal Navy, set to replace the Astute class – currently designated as SSN-Replacement (SSNR).

Four of the seven Astute submarines have already been commissioned into the Royal Navy, while the remaining three are in an advanced construction phase at BAE Systems’ facility in Barrow. BAE Systems is additionally a participant in the Dreadnought Alliance and, alongside the SDA and Rolls-Royce, is leading the design and fabrication of a successor to the Vanguard class. The construction of the initial two of the four new Dreadnought class submarines is progressing well in Barrow.