The UK has awarded a £5.9 billion contract to BAE Systems for its Dreadnought-class nuclear submarine program…
This funding will advance the construction, integration, and testing of four submarines for the Royal Navy.
Construction of the lead vessel, HMS Dreadnought, is currently underway at the BAE Systems Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, with delivery to the Royal Navy scheduled for 2030.
These four platforms will replace the Royal Navy’s existing Vanguard-class fleet, ensuring the continued operation of the nation’s nuclear deterrent.
The Dreadnought-class submarines will measure 153.6 meters in length and approximately 12.8 meters in beam, with a submerged displacement of 17,200 tons.
Each submarine will be powered by a Rolls-Royce-developed PWR3 pressurized water reactor, utilizing a turbo-electric drive paired with a pump-jet propulsion system.
The reactor core is designed to operate without refueling for the duration of the platforms’ projected 35 to 40-year service life.
Each submarine will feature 12 vertical launch tubes arranged in three four-tube modules and will be armed with UGM-133A Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which have a range exceeding 7,000 kilometers…