The Ministry of Defence has awarded BAE Systems (
www.baesystems.com) “the contract for delivery of the fifth of seven Astute Class attack submarines”.
Manufacturing of the submarine — named Anson — began at BAE’s Barrow-in-Furness site in 2010, and the vessel is on schedule for sea trials in 2020.
The delivery contract covers the design and remaining build, as well as test and commissioning activities. It was announced by Defence Procurement Minister Philip Dunne during a visit to the facility.
He said: “This £1.3 billion contract marks an important step in the progress of the Astute programme. It is a key part of our £166 billion plan to ensure that our armed forces have the equipment they need to defend the UK’s interests across the seas, in the skies and on land — both at home and abroad. This new contract secures thousands of jobs in Barrow and across the UK supply chain, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to increase defence spending each year for the rest of the decade.”
Rear Admiral Mike Wareham, director (submarines) at the MoD’s Defence Equipment & Support organisation, said: “The Astute Class gives the Royal Navy the most technologically advanced submarines, offering much greater fire-power, better communications and more-advanced stealth technology than their predecessors.”
Submarine number six — Agamemnon — and the yet-to-be named seventh are also under construction in Barrow. The first two — Astute and Ambush — are already in service. The third — Artful — is undergoing sea trials and is due to be handed over to the Royal Navy by the end of the year.