New Royal Navy Nuclear Submarine Programme "Still On Track"
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A Government minister has confirmed the new Dreadnought-class submarine programme remains on schedule to deliver its first boat into service in the early 2030s.
Defence procurement and industry minister Maria Eagle was answering a written question posed by Tory MP for Huntingdon Ben Obese-Jecty about the planned completion date for Dreadnought-class submarines.
As per Hansard, she responded: “The Dreadnought programme remains on track for the first of class, HMS Dreadnought, to enter service in the early 2030s.”
She also added the usual caveat that planned in-service dates for Royal Navy submarines were withheld to avoid prejudicing the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed Forces.
The Government minister’s answer appears to confirm statements by BAE Systems that the October 2024 fire in its Barrow-in-Furness nuclear submarine shipyard has not impacted the Dreadnought-class programme schedule.
Once commissioned HMS Dreadnought will become the first of four Royal Navy next-generation ballistic missile submarines carrying Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent.
In late March a keel-laying ceremony for the boat took place at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, attended by U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey, as well as a host of other navy, government and civilian dignitaries.
While the ceremony itself was symbolic — given that the vessels are constructed in sections, many of which are largely complete — it still signalled progress towards the new submarine’s eventual launch and subsequent deployment. Media reports have suggested HMS Dreadnought may be ready to enter service as early as the end of 2032.
The 150-metre-plus Dreadnought-class submarines will be the largest ever built for the Royal Navy, displacing more than 17,000 tonnes. Each boat will have more than 26 miles of pipework and in excess of 200 miles of cabling supplying well in excess of 12,000 separate electrical systems.
Four submarines are being built by BAE systems and subcontractors at a combined cost of at least £31 billion. They will be propelled by nuclear reactors supplied by Rolls-Royce, and will carry the Trident II ballistic missiles which form the U.K.’s Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD); each projectile has up to eight nuclear warheads.
Like their Vanguard-class predecessors, the Dreadnought-class submarines’ range and sailing duration will be limited only by food supplies and mechanical integrity. They will also carry the Spearfish heavyweight torpedo, which has a range of up to 35 nautical miles.
The boats have been designed from first principles to each have a service life of up to 40 years. As well as HMS Dreadnought, work has already begun on Valiant and Warspite; the fourth boat, King George VI, will follow later.