THE UK Government has announced £2 billion of investment into a set of new nuclear submarines, which will be based near Glasgow.
The investment is part of the Dreadnought programme which will replace the four submarines that currently provide the UK’s Trident nuclear missile continuous-at-sea deterrent.
Four new UK built submarines will be introduced in the 2030s and will boast a lifespan of about 30 years - with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) saying they will be based near Glasgow "for as long as the international security situation makes it necessary”.
According to the MoD, the Dreadnought vessels will be the largest class of submarines ever built for the Royal Navy and “one of the most complex machines ever built”.
Jeremy Quin, Defence Procurement Minister, said: “The Dreadnought Class will be crucial to maintaining and safeguarding our national security, with the nuclear deterrent protecting every UK citizen from the most extreme threats, every minute of every day.”
Th £2billion is specifically for the first of four submarines which will move from the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard in Cumbria to the HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane).
However, The MoD has said the contract is only an initial investment with a planned overall total of nearly £10 billion for the whole third phase of delivery.
An additional £160million contract has also been agreed upon with Raytheon UK to support training for crew members stationed in Glasgow.
So far, the design, build and deployment of the Dreadnaught programme has supported 30,000 jobs across the UK for two previous development stages, with thousands of these jobs in Scotland.
Commenting on the project's importance, Admiral Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord, said: “This investment will enable the transition from the Vanguard to Dreadnought-class submarines – an enormous challenge, and one we in the Royal Navy willingly accept.
“We have provided over fifty years of unbroken Continuous At Sea Deterrence and we will ensure that the Royal Navy provides the ultimate guarantee of security for the United Kingdom for the next five decades and beyond.”
The introduction of the HMS Dreadnaughts is intended to maintain the Continuous at Sea Deterrence (CASD) - the UK military's longest-running operation, with at least one nuclear-armed submarine at sea since 1969.
The £10billion investment is part of a package of contracts awarded by the UK Government to BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, who have been involved throughout the development process for the submarines.
Steve Timms, BAE Systems Submarines managing director, said: “Today’s funding announcement allows us to maintain the Dreadnought programme’s progress and continue investing in the infrastructure and skills needed to deliver these highly complex submarines to the Royal Navy.”
