Latest news with #SSN-AUKUS
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The UK is going heavy on attack submarines, with plans to build 12 new ones
The Royal Navy is building 12 new SSN-AUKUS attack submarines. They're set to replace the UK's Astute-class attack submarines by the 2030s. It comes as part of the UK government's bid to boost its armed forces amid rising global threats. The UK plans to build 12 new attack submarines as part of sweeping plans to boost the country's military. The Ministry of Defence said Sunday that the SSN-AUKUS vessels would be built as part of the UK's Strategic Review to enhance its military strength amid rising global threats. They'll be deployed as part of the AUKUS alliance between the UK, Australia, and the US, with the submarines having been developed alongside the Australian navy. "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," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said. He added: "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 submarines are set to replace the UK's current fleet of seven Astute-class attack submarines by the 2030s. The Astute class submarines are nuclear-powered and carry Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAM) and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, the UK government said. The Naval Lookout analysis website described the new submarines as an "apex naval predator." "In preparing for potential conflict with other states, SSNs are arguably the most important conventional assets the UK can deploy," it said, adding that they can be used to take out enemy vessels, create blockades, land special forces operatives, and gather intelligence. But Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, told journalists that questions remain over how the target of building 12 submarines would be met on schedule. "There is going to have to be a pretty major culture change within the forces, within the MOD and their relationship with industry to make that more viable," he said. "I would be fascinated to know how they're going to do that because the record is not great up until now," he added. The UK government has pledged to boost defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. Under the plans outlined in its latest Strategic Defence Review, released this week, it will also provide the equivalent of $20 billion in extra funding for the UK's nuclear weapons program. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
12 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
The UK is going heavy on attack submarines, with plans to build 12 new ones
The Royal Navy is building 12 new SSN-AUKUS attack submarines. They're set to replace the UK's Astute-class attack submarines by the 2030s. It comes as part of the UK government's bid to boost its armed forces amid rising global threats. The UK plans to build 12 new attack submarines as part of sweeping plans to boost the country's military. The Ministry of Defence said Sunday that the SSN-AUKUS vessels would be built as part of the UK's Strategic Review to enhance its military strength amid rising global threats. They'll be deployed as part of the AUKUS alliance between the UK, Australia, and the US, with the submarines having been developed alongside the Australian navy. "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," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said. He added: "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 submarines are set to replace the UK's current fleet of seven Astute-class attack submarines by the 2030s. The Astute class submarines are nuclear-powered and carry Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAM) and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, the UK government said. The Naval Lookout analysis website described the new submarines as an "apex naval predator." "In preparing for potential conflict with other states, SSNs are arguably the most important conventional assets the UK can deploy," it said, adding that they can be used to take out enemy vessels, create blockades, land special forces operatives, and gather intelligence. But Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, told journalists that questions remain over how the target of building 12 submarines would be met on schedule. "There is going to have to be a pretty major culture change within the forces, within the MOD and their relationship with industry to make that more viable," he said. "I would be fascinated to know how they're going to do that because the record is not great up until now," he added. The UK government has pledged to boost defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. Under the plans outlined in its latest Strategic Defence Review, released this week, it will also provide the equivalent of $20 billion in extra funding for the UK's nuclear weapons program.
Metro
2 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'
The Age
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Trump's billionaire envoy joins Starmer in show of force for AUKUS
The remarks from the banker-turned-diplomat, who gave at least $US6 million ($9.3 million) to Trump's election campaign, appeared as a clear pitch to those concerned about the pact's future after his return to the White House. Loading 'This alliance enjoys broad bipartisan support,' the former chief executive of Stephens Inc. said. 'I'm sure that you all are aware that bipartisanship is certainly not always the case in American politics these days. However, it is when it comes to AUKUS.' Stephens said it was reassuring to see that that same support was reflected in the room – which included Australia's High Commission Stephen Smith and former defence minister Linda Reynolds – adding that AUKUS was 'a partnership built on trust'. 'The United States is proud to stand alongside Britain and Australia, two of our closest allies, as we deepen our collaboration to respond to a changing world,' he said. Loading His remarks come at a pivotal moment for the pact. Nearly four years after its dramatic announcement, AUKUS is shifting from high-level co-ordination to complex implementation. Announced in 2021, Pillar I of the agreement aims to deliver Australia with three nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines from the US and build five new nuclear-powered attack submarines named SSN-AUKUS. The first of those will arrive in the late 2030s, and Australia's first domestically built sub in the early 2040s. Pillar II focuses on joint development of advanced defence technologies, including AI and quantum. While AUKUS aims to strengthen defence ties in the Indo-Pacific, former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has voiced concerns, questioning whether Australia would ever receive a US nuclear-powered submarine. The US faces challenges in its own naval capabilities, with senior Pentagon officials also questioning the feasibility of the submarine deal, given current shipbuilding limitations. Starmer, meanwhile, used the moment to double down on defence, announcing the UK's biggest military investment since the Cold War. 'In February, I announced the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War. That will come on stream in 2027 and then up to 3 per cent of GDP in the next Parliament,' he said. But he said AUKUS was about more than money. 'Alongside the pure money comes the biggest shift in mindset, I think certainly in my lifetime—to see security and defence not just as one priority amongst many, but as the central organising principle of government.' He pointed to AUKUS's industrial impact, including thousands of jobs already created in Barrow and Derby, and the role of British businesses in building the next generation of nuclear-powered submarines and advanced technology systems. 'This is transformational,' Starmer said. 'An investment in our collective security and a reminder today and every day of the service out there of people who are risking their lives to keep us safe.' Starmer said he had attempted to demonstrate both by naming former national security adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove as his special AUKUS representative.
Sydney Morning Herald
20-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Trump's billionaire envoy joins Starmer in show of force for AUKUS
The remarks from the banker-turned-diplomat, who gave at least $US6 million ($9.3 million) to Trump's election campaign, appeared as a clear pitch to those concerned about the pact's future after his return to the White House. Loading 'This alliance enjoys broad bipartisan support,' the former chief executive of Stephens Inc. said. 'I'm sure that you all are aware that bipartisanship is certainly not always the case in American politics these days. However, it is when it comes to AUKUS.' Stephens said it was reassuring to see that that same support was reflected in the room – which included Australia's High Commission Stephen Smith and former defence minister Linda Reynolds – adding that AUKUS was 'a partnership built on trust'. 'The United States is proud to stand alongside Britain and Australia, two of our closest allies, as we deepen our collaboration to respond to a changing world,' he said. Loading His remarks come at a pivotal moment for the pact. Nearly four years after its dramatic announcement, AUKUS is shifting from high-level co-ordination to complex implementation. Announced in 2021, Pillar I of the agreement aims to deliver Australia with three nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines from the US and build five new nuclear-powered attack submarines named SSN-AUKUS. The first of those will arrive in the late 2030s, and Australia's first domestically built sub in the early 2040s. Pillar II focuses on joint development of advanced defence technologies, including AI and quantum. While AUKUS aims to strengthen defence ties in the Indo-Pacific, former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has voiced concerns, questioning whether Australia would ever receive a US nuclear-powered submarine. The US faces challenges in its own naval capabilities, with senior Pentagon officials also questioning the feasibility of the submarine deal, given current shipbuilding limitations. Starmer, meanwhile, used the moment to double down on defence, announcing the UK's biggest military investment since the Cold War. 'In February, I announced the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War. That will come on stream in 2027 and then up to 3 per cent of GDP in the next Parliament,' he said. But he said AUKUS was about more than money. 'Alongside the pure money comes the biggest shift in mindset, I think certainly in my lifetime—to see security and defence not just as one priority amongst many, but as the central organising principle of government.' He pointed to AUKUS's industrial impact, including thousands of jobs already created in Barrow and Derby, and the role of British businesses in building the next generation of nuclear-powered submarines and advanced technology systems. 'This is transformational,' Starmer said. 'An investment in our collective security and a reminder today and every day of the service out there of people who are risking their lives to keep us safe.' Starmer said he had attempted to demonstrate both by naming former national security adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove as his special AUKUS representative.
