Latest news with #Astute
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Voices: I'm a former submariner – here's what you need to know about Britain's new nuclear fleet
During the Cold War, and for a short time following the collapse of the Soviet empire, the United Kingdom had a fleet of submarines: the strategic deterrent, the hunter-killer fleet boats, and the diesel submarine flotillas. We could justly say that we could act – independently and with our allies – across the world, and in any theatre of war. Yet following the end of the Cold War, political decisions were made on the assumption that we no longer needed such capable forces; the peace had been won. We lost all of our diesel submarines with one sweep of the political pen; we reduced the number of SSNs (nuclear-powered attack submarines) from a combined force of 13 Swiftsure and Trafalgar class, replacing them with highly effective but limited numbers of the Astute class (seven in total); we whittled down the shore support that would keep the boats we had at sea for longer. We stopped investing in the shore facilities that would support our submarines and provide a decent home for our submariners. Numbers matter – it is a stark and irrefutable fact. From early in the last decade, it has become self-evident that there is a resurgent Russia. The military has known this for a considerable amount of time, and submariners never believed that the Cold War had ended. Unfortunately, most politicians have felt it unpalatable to accept the truth of the in-house briefings and the obvious facts. In reality, we have needed to make significant steps towards re-arming and increasing our fleet capability for a decade or more. This week's announcement, therefore, of the intent to procure 12 replacement SSNs for the Astute class vessels, is a very welcome political acknowledgement of a military reality – and may, in time, bring us back somewhere towards where we need to be to fulfil our standing obligations, nationally, internationally, and reactively. Increases in capability are important – they keep you at the cutting edge of war fighting and able to stand up in the most challenging of arenas – but so are raw numbers. You can have the most capable ship in the world, but if you only have one, it is vulnerable, either to mechanical failure or to enemy action. Only with numbers do you have some sort of tactical resilience and the ability to show that you can project maritime power and influence beyond your own borders. Over the past few years, the Royal Navy has suffered from a well-publicised lack of available Astute-class subs. While the reasons for this are complicated, a significant factor is the sparing strategy adopted by the Ministry of Defence. Without a decent cache of spares, a routine mechanical issue becomes an operational showstopper. A flotilla of seven SSNs provides some (but arguably nowhere near enough) strategic resilience to respond to international maritime demands. Once you have a submarine on a long maintenance period, two on short maintenance periods, two on operational stand-down periods and one with a short-term defect, you very quickly run out altogether. When balanced against the above availability, the permanent operational demands of having a submarine ready to protect home waters, plus one ready to deploy to protect longer-distance interests and one potentially supporting carrier-group operations or Nato exercises, means that there is no surge capacity or room for contingent operations. What this new announcement must not become is a short-term political statement that fails to materialise as a result of budgetary constraints. To give our fleet the tools to do the job of defending our nation, we must have at least 12 hunter-killer submarines. A further discussion could then be had about strengthening our strategic deterrent flotilla, and the rest of our maritime, land, and air-defence offering. The sledgehammer of Putin's military stance has finally cracked the UK's political nut. Let us hope that we turn this intent into a reality, sign the contracts, and start the process that will regrow our defensive capability into something that can properly deter and protect our nation from an increasingly risky maritime environment. David Bessell is a former career command-qualified submariner
Metro
3 days ago
- Politics
- Metro
Inside UK's new £15,000,000,000 nuclear attack submarines
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The UK waters will soon be patrolled by 12 new 'apex predator' attack submarines. The military's weapon arsenal includes the secretive nuclear-powered and armed submarines, which only a select few will ever set foot in due to high-level security. The submarine arm of the Royal Navy, known as the Silent Service, operates a fleet of Trafalgar, Astute and Vanguard class vessels. Now, an upgrade is on the horizon after the government said that 12 new SSN-AUKUS submarines will be built as part of a £15 billion programme 'in response to the rapidly increasing threats' – namely, Russia – and to 'make Britain and Nato safe for decades to come.' Here is a recap of what the fuss around the SSN-AUKUS submarines is all about. The Ministry of Defence has been tight-lipped about the submarines' exact specs, but they will replace the seven-strong Astute class from the late 2030s onwards. Their deadly design allows them to patrol domestic and international waters without detection, and if needed, destroy other ships and submarines and even enforce a blockade for a long period. The name – SSN-AUKUS – comes from the security pact between Australia, the UK and the US formed in 2021, which led to the creation of the next-generation submarines. The new fleet will carry conventional weapons, but they will be nuclear-powered. In comparison, the Vanguard-class submarines are equipped with the controversial Trident missile system with nuclear warheads. One of the new submarines' task will be to protect the Trident nuclear missiles, which are already undergoing a warhead modernisation programme. The SSN system will remain the 'apex predator' for years to come, Navy Lookout said. Official information on the design is sparse, but the Navy Lookout put together an estimated look for the new fleet. The SSN-AUKUS subs will be largely modelled after the Dreadnought class, but they are likely to be larger than the current Astute fleet. This will provide extra space for heavier weapons and crew. One SSN-AUKUS is estimated to be 410ft long and weigh 9,200 tonnes Ice-strengthened and streamlined fin PWR3 nuclear reactor is located in the rear section Six 21-inch launch tubes for torpedoes, mines and small robot underwater vehicles near the front Optronic sensor masts – essentially a modern-day periscope to provide ultra-high definition view at night and during the day The weapon launch system will be based on the Virginia-class technologies developed in the US to allow advanced intelligence, surveillance, underwater warfare and strike operations, Naval Technologies said The submarines and the nuclear systems themselves will be built in the UK The new generation submarines are expected to carry submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM), which can strike inland The weapons can penetrate protective 'anti-access and area denial bubbles,' which can be too dangerous for Navy ships, according to the Navy Lookout The new UK submarines will be built by BAE Systems at Barrow-in-Furness, while the nuclear propulsion units are manufactured at Rolls Royce in Derby, which the government said will support 30,000 jobs. Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression. 'With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering on our Plan for Change with 30,000 highly-skilled jobs across the country.' The submarine plan comes after the government pledged to up the UK's defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 as the Prime Minister announced the strategic defence review. However, he refused to confirm whether the defence spending will reach 3% by the next parliament. The PM also announced at least six new munitions factories along with the £15 billion investment in nuclear warheads. He said: 'First, we are moving to war-fighting readiness as the central purpose of our armed forces. 'When we are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, the most effective way to deter them is to be ready, and frankly, to show them that we're ready to deliver peace through strength.' The second aim is to adopt a 'Nato-first' defence approach so that all actions strengthen the alliance. More Trending Innovation will also be accelerated at a 'wartime pace' to mee the 'threat of today and tomorrow, as the fastest innovator in Nato,' Sir Keir said. The UK defence announcement comes as the Russia-Ukraine war has intensified. Ukraine said it had blasted dozens of Russian nuclear bombers in a mass drone attack over the weekend. Meanwhile, peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegates concluded in Turkiye without a major breakthrough, although prisoner swaps were agreed on. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Families still haunted by RAF Chinook crash demand truth after nearly 30 years MORE: Royal Navy scrambled to monitor Russian ship loitering in UK waters MORE: Keir Starmer lashes out at Nigel Farage over 'Liz Truss 2.0 experiment'
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
UK to build up to 12 new attack submarines
LONDON — The UK will build "up to" 12 new attack submarines, the prime minister will announce, as the government unveils its major defense review on Monday. The new conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines will replace the seven-strong Astute class from the late 2030s onwards. The review is expected to recommend the armed forces move to "warfighting readiness" to deter growing threats faced by the UK. The prime minister is also expected to confirm the UK will spend £15bn on its nuclear warhead program. Sir Keir will say that, alongside the UK's nuclear-armed submarines, the new vessels would keep "Britain and Nato safe for decades". The threat posed by Moscow has been a key part of the government's pitch ahead of Monday's review, led by ex-Labour defense secretary Lord Robertson, which was commissioned by Labour shortly after it took office last July. The report will make 62 recommendations, which the government is expected to accept in full. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme ahead of its publication, Sir Keir said the danger posed by Russia "cannot be ignored" and the "best way" to deter conflict was to prepare for it. The government has committed to increasing UK defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of national income by 2027, a move welcomed by opposition parties amid a growing consensus on boosting military expenditure. But the run-up to the review's release has been dominated by a political row over when UK spending should hit the next milestone of 3%. The government says it has an "ambition" to hit the target by 2034 at the latest, after the next general election, but the Conservatives say the move - which would hike spending by around £20bn a year - should be met by the end of the decade. Sir Keir said he would only commit the government to a timescale when he knew how it could be paid for, adding a date would otherwise be "performative". Shadow defense secretary James Cartlidge said Labour's review should be "taken with a pinch of salt" unless the government showed there would be enough money to pay for it. The Liberal Democrats have said Labour's 2034 timeline is "far too late" and have suggested an earlier date should be found in cross-party talks. The party's defense spokesperson Helen Maguire called for a "concrete commitment" on funding to back up the submarines announcement, adding that Labour had left "serious questions" over how the project would be financed. PA Media Image shows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a white shirt and glasses, speaking to workers during a visit to Glass Futures in St Helens, Merseyside, on 29 May, 2025PA Media Other announcements in the review will include: Commitment to £1.5bn to build six new factories to enable an "always on" munitions production capacity Building up to 7,000 long-range weapons including missiles or drones in the UK, to be used by British forces Pledge to set up a "cyber and electromagnetic command" to boost the military's defensive and offensive capabilities in cyberspace Extra £1.5bn to 2029 to fund repairs to military housing £1bn on technology to speed up delivery of targeting information to soldiers Defense Secretary John Healey has signaled he is not aiming to increase the overall size of the Army before the next general election. On Sunday, he said his "first job" was to reverse a decline in numbers with a target to return to a strength of 73,000 full-time soldiers "in the next Parliament". The Astute class is the Royal Navy's current fleet of attack submarines, which have nuclear-powered engines and are armed with conventional torpedoes and missiles. As well as protecting maritime task groups and gathering intelligence, they protect the Vanguard class of submarines that carry the UK's Trident nuclear missiles. The sixth submarine in the current Astute series was launched last October, with the seventh, the final one in the series, currently under construction. The next generation of attack submarines that will replace them, SSN-AUKUS, have been developed with the Australian Navy under a deal announced in 2021 under the previous Conservative government. Meanwhile work on modernizing the warheads carried by Trident missiles is already under way. The £15bn investment into the warhead program will back the government's commitments to maintain the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent. In his announcement on Monday, Sir Keir is to repeat a Labour manifesto commitment to deliver the Dreadnought class of nuclear-armed submarines, which are due to replace the aging Vanguard fleet from the early 2030s onwards. The MoD's Defence Nuclear Enterprise accounts for 20% of its budget and includes the cost of building four Dreadnought class submarines. — BBC
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UK to build 12 nuclear submarines in preparation for potential war with Russia
The United Kingdom has announced plans to build 12 new nuclear submarines in preparation for potential armed aggression from Russia. Source: The Sunday Times Details: According to The Sunday Times, the UK is planning to construct 12 new nuclear attack submarines to replace the seven existing Astute-class submarines equipped with conventional weapons and to complement the four Trident nuclear missile strategic submarines that form the sea-based component of the UK's nuclear deterrent. The new submarines are expected to enter service by the late 2030s. They will be part of the AUKUS trilateral security pact signed between the UK, the US and Australia in 2021. The alliance provides for the sharing of military technology and intelligence and the joint development of submarines. The total number of submarines ordered under AUKUS will reach 20. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also promise to invest £15 billion (around US$20 billion) in a nuclear warhead development programme. The Sunday Times noted that this is the first time the UK has revealed both the number of nuclear attack submarines to replace the Astute class and the scale of investment in warhead development programmes. Details about the rearmament of the British forces are expected to be outlined in the UK government's strategic defence review, which will be published on Monday 2 June. Defence Secretary John Healey said that the UK must be ready for armed attack from Russia and that the review will send a "message to Moscow" about the country's readiness for combat. The 130-page document will also recommend putting the UK armed forces on a state of combat readiness in response to the "immediate and pressing" threat from Russia. Background: Prior to that, The Sunday Times reported that the UK government is negotiating with the Pentagon to purchase US F-35A Lightning stealth fighters capable of launching tactical nuclear weapons. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
PM to announce huge nuclear submarine expansion as UK told to be ready for war
Keir Starmer will make the announcement as he unveils the Government's new Strategic Defence Review, which is expected to recommend the Armed Forces move to warfighting readiness Keir Starmer will today announce major plans to almost double the UK's nuclear-powered submarine fleet. The Prime Minister will set out the building of 12 new attack submarines as part of the AUKUS programme, a security partnership between Australia, the UK and the US. He will also announce a major £15billion investment in the UK's nuclear warhead programme. The PM will make the announcements as he unveils the Government's new Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The externally-led review is expected to recommend the Armed Forces move to warfighting readiness to deter the growing threats faced by the UK. The UK currently has five Astute class attack submarines, which are on track to become a fleet of seven warships in the near future. These will be replaced one by one with the new SSN-AUKUS attack submarines from the late 2030s. A further five new submarines will take the total to 12. A major expansion of the industrial capabilities at Barrow and Raynesway, Derby, will see a new submarine built every 18 months in the future. These will all be built by the UK and operated by the Royal Navy. Any possible Australian submarines committed in the future will be in addition to this and would be supported by the UK and US navies. The Astute class submarines cost £1.6billion per warship so the new AUKUS commitment is expected to cost multiple billions of pounds. The UK nuclear warhead programme relates to nuclear-armed submarines, which are warships containing nuclear missiles. They are different to nuclear-powered submarines, which are not armed, but have a nuclear reactor to generate power, allowing them to operate for extended periods, at high speeds and with stealthy quietness. The programme involves the building of warheads, which are the front part of a bomb or missile that contain explosives. The UK has four nuclear-armed Vanguard Class submarines, which each contain Trident II D5 missiles carrying UK nuclear warheads. The UK is also in the process of replacing the Vanguard class with four new Dreadnought class submarines and the warheads themselves. The Ministry of Defence said the submarine announcements will together support 30,000 highly skilled jobs across the country well into the 2030s, as well as helping to deliver 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles across the next decade. The investment will also back the Government's commitments to maintain the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent, build a new fleet of Dreadnought submarines and deliver all future upgrades. The landmark SDR will today set out 62 recommendations, which the government is expected to accept in full tomorrow. Significant investment in the UK warhead programme this parliament and maintaining the existing stockpile are among the demands. The Prime Minister earlier this year announced the UK would increase its defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with an ambition to raise it to 3% in the next Parliament. In an event launching the SDR today, the PM will say: 'From the supply lines to the front lines, this government is foursquare behind the men and women upholding our nation's freedom and security. 'This Strategic Defence Review will ensure the UK rises to the challenge and our Armed Forces have the equipment they need that keeps us safe at home while driving greater opportunity for our engineers, shipbuilders and technicians of the future.' Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression. "With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad.' What is expected in the Strategic Defence Review? In response to the Strategic Defence Review, the Government's commitments will include: Getting the armed forces to a stage where it would be ready to fight a war Boosting weapons and equipment stockpiles and making sure there is capacity to scale up production if needed in a crisis or war £1.5billion to set up at least six munitions factories Buying up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons in a move due to support 800 defence jobs Setting up a new cyber command and investing £1billion in digital capabilities More than £1.5billion of additional funding to repair and renew armed forces housing Boosting recruitment for Britain's armed forces - with the number of cadets increasing by 30%
