Latest news with #nuclearSubmarines
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
UK to expand submarine fleet in shift to ‘warfighting readiness'
The new submarines are based on a model that has been jointly developed by the UK, US, and Australia under a security partnership known as AUKUS. (AFP pic) LONDON : Britain will expand its nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet as part of a defence review to be published today that is designed to prepare the country to fight a modern war and counter the threat from Russia. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, like other European leaders, is racing to rebuild the UK's military capabilities after US President Donald Trump told the continent it needed to take more responsibility for its own security. Monday's strategic defence review will call for Britain's armed forces to move to a state of 'warfighting readiness' and spell out the threats it faces, including Russian aggression. In light of Trump's decision to upend Europe's strategic reliance on the US, Starmer has already committed to raising defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, from 2.3%, with an ambition to get to 3% over the longer term. The defence review will set out plans to build at least six new munitions plants, procure up to 7,000 British-made, long-range weapons, and launch new tech and cyber systems to better connect and defend the armed forces on the battlefield. 'We cannot ignore the threat that Russia poses. We've seen what's happened in Ukraine just over three years ago,' Starmer told the BBC. The review, led by the former Nato boss, George Robertson, and a former Russia adviser to the White House, Fiona Hill, is designed to reverse Britain's post-Cold War decline in military capability. It will make 62 recommendations, all of which the government is expected to accept. Attack subs Among the changes, Britain will build up to 12 of its next-generation attack submarines – which are nuclear-powered but carry conventional non-nuclear weapons – to replace the current fleet of seven from the late 2030s, the defence ministry said. Britain operates a separate fleet of submarines armed with nuclear weapons. The government, for the first time, said a pre-existing programme to develop a new nuclear warhead to replace the model used by that fleet would cost 15 billion pounds. '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,' defence secretary John Healey said. The new submarines will be a model jointly developed by the UK, US and Australia, under a security partnership known as AUKUS. Juggling severely strained public finances, a slow-growing economy and declining popularity among an increasingly dissatisfied electorate, Starmer has sought to cast increased spending on defence as a way to create jobs and wealth. 'This plan will ensure Britain is secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering a defence dividend of well-paid jobs up and down the country,' he is expected to say in a speech launching today's review.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
How many nuclear submarines does the UK have – and are they ready for war?
Britain will build up to 12 new nuclear-powered submarines, Sir Keir Starmer will announce as he unveils his much-anticipated defence review. In a bid to 'ensure the UK rises to the challenge' of growing global security threats, the prime minister will say that the 130-page review is a 'radical blueprint' signalling a 'wave of investments' into military infrastructure and weaponry. An extra £15bn will be spent on new nuclear warheads for the UK's nuclear deterrent. The plans will significantly increase the UK's conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet, with the new vessels built under a joint deal with the US and Australia, known as the Aukus partnership. Here's all you need to know about the UK's fleet of nuclear-deterrent submarines, and the proposed plans for its future: How many submarines does the Royal Navy currently have? The Royal Navy currently operates nine submarines, including five Astute-class conventionally armed nuclear-powered attack vessels. The Astute class is Britain's largest and most advanced fleet of submarines. The remaining four are Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), which carry the UK's Trident nuclear missile system. A new group, the Dreadnought class, will be introduced in the early 2030s. These will be both nuclear-powered and ballistic missile-armed. How many submarines will the UK have in the future? Two further Astute-class submarines, HMS Agamemnon and HMS Agincourt, are set to enter service in late 2025 and late 2026 respectively. Agamemnon is currently going through trials with the Royal Navy as part of a test and commissioning programme, while Agincourt remains under construction. As part of the joint defence deal between the US, Australia and the UK - known as Aukus - the UK is set to significantly boost its fleet of submarines following the defence review. An added 12 submarines would bring the UK's fleet up to more than 20 in total. This remains far smaller than the US's fleet of 71, and China and Russia's fleets of 66 each. How powerful are the UK's submarines? The Astute class is the latest class of nuclear-powered attack submarines and is constructed by BAE Systems Submarines. Submarines of this class can fit dozens of weapons - up to 38 - and are armed with Tomahawk IV cruise missiles, which can strike targets at a range of well over 1,600km away. But the UK's nuclear deterrent is found in the four Vanguard-class boats, which use the Trident missile system. Each boat can carry up to 16 Trident missiles, which can carry up to 12 nuclear warheads each. The Dreadnought class will be both nuclear-powered and ballistic missile-armed. Where are they kept? The Royal Navy Submarine Service base is found in HMNB Clyde, in Scotland, known by Navy personnel as Faslane. It is 25 miles west of Glasgow and is found off the Firth of Clyde. The base is one of Scotland's largest employers, employing more than 6,000 military and civilian personnel. Situated in a relatively secluded area, the base sits among deep waters with quick access to submarine patrolling areas in the North Atlantic. What are they used for today? One of the key roles of the submarines is to act as the UK's nuclear deterrent. 'Our Vanguard class submarines - the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent force - are continually in operation: patrolling the world's oceans undetected, ready to strike at any time,' the Royal Navy website reads. 'Their presence alone sends the most powerful message to anyone who would do us harm,' it adds. With the Astute class of 'attack' or 'hunter-killer' submarines, the Royal Navy can attack surface vessels, other submarines, and targets hundreds of miles inland.
CNA
4 days ago
- Business
- CNA
UK to expand submarine fleet as defence review calls for 'warfighting readiness'
LONDON: Britain will increase the size of its nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet, the government has announced ahead of a defence review expected to say the country must invest billions to be ready and equipped to fight a modern war. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, like other leaders across Europe, is racing to rebuild his country's defence capabilities after United States President Donald Trump told the continent it needed to take more responsibility for its own security. Monday (Jun 2)'s Strategic Defence Review will call for Britain's armed forces to move to a state of "warfighting readiness", spelling out changing security threats and which defence technologies are needed to counter them. "We know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression," defence minister John Healey said in a statement. Britain will build up to 12 of its next-generation attack submarines, which are nuclear-powered but carry conventional non-nuclear weapons, to replace the current fleet of seven from the late 2030s, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. Britain operates a separate fleet of submarines armed with nuclear weapons. The government for the first time said a pre-existing programme to develop a new nuclear warhead to replace the model used by that fleet would cost £15 billion. "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," Healey added. The new submarines will be a model jointly developed by the UK, US and Australia under the security partnership known as AUKUS. REVERSE DECLINE In light of Trump's decision to upend decades of strategic reliance on the US by Europe, Starmer has already committed to increasing Britain's defence spending in an attempt to reverse a long-term decline in its military capability. He has promised to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027 and target a 3 per cent level over the longer term. On Sunday he warned Britain must be ready to fight and win a war against states with advanced military forces. In the days running up to the Strategic Defence Review, which Starmer commissioned shortly after taking office last July, the government has announced plans to spend billions on munitions plants, battlefield technology and military housing. Juggling severely strained public finances, a slow-growing economy and declining popularity among an increasingly dissatisfied electorate, Starmer has sought to cast increased spending on defence as a way to create jobs and wealth. "This plan will ensure Britain is secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering a defence dividend of well-paid jobs up and down the country," he is expected to say in a speech launching Monday's review.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Britain's new nuclear-powered attack submarines to ‘face down' Russia
Britain will build a fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines to 'face down' Russian aggression. On Monday, Sir Keir Starmer will commit to building a submarine every 18 months in the most significant defence announcement since the Cold War. The 12 new SSN-AUKUS vessels will replace seven Astute class submarines from the late 2030s. Alongside four new Dreadnought submarines, replacing the old Vanguard class, this will take the total number of British submarines to 16. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, has vowed that the Strategic Defence Review, published on Monday, will give the British military more power in the face of hostile states such as Russia and China. The Government has also outlined, for the first time, the full scale of its £15 billion investment plans into the sovereign warhead programme for Dreadnought.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
From submarines to Trident: The UK's nuclear capability explained
Britain will build up to 12 new nuclear-powered submarines, Sir Keir Starmer will announce as he unveils his much-anticipated defence review. In a bid to 'ensure the UK rises to the challenge' of growing global security threats, the prime minister will say that the 130-page review is a 'radical blueprint' signalling a 'wave of investments' into military infrastructure and weaponry. An extra £15bn will be spent on new nuclear warheads for the UK's nuclear deterrent. The plans will significantly increase the UK's conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet, with the new vessels built under a joint deal with the US and Australia, known as the Aukus partnership. Here's all you need to know about the UK's fleet of nuclear-deterrent submarines, and the proposed plans for its future: How many submarines does the Royal Navy currently have? The Royal Navy currently operates nine submarines, including five Astute-class conventionally armed nuclear-powered attack vessels. The Astute class is Britain's largest and most advanced fleet of submarines. The remaining four are Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), which carry the UK's Trident nuclear missile system. A new group, the Dreadnought class, will be introduced in the early 2030s. These will be both nuclear-powered and ballistic missile-armed. How many submarines will the UK have in the future? Two further Astute-class submarines, HMS Agamemnon and HMS Agincourt, are set to enter service in late 2025 and late 2026 respectively. Agamemnon is currently going through trials with the Royal Navy as part of a test and commissioning programme, while Agincourt remains under construction. As part of the joint defence deal between the US, Australia and the UK - known as Aukus - the UK is set to significantly boost its fleet of submarines following the defence review. An added 12 submarines would bring the UK's fleet up to more than 20 in total. This remains far smaller than the US's fleet of 71, and China and Russia's fleets of 66 each. How powerful are the UK's submarines? The Astute class is the latest class of nuclear-powered attack submarines and is constructed by BAE Systems Submarines. Submarines of this class can fit dozens of weapons - up to 38 - and are armed with Tomahawk IV cruise missiles, which can strike targets at a range of well over 1,600km away. But the UK's nuclear deterrent is found in the four Vanguard-class boats, which use the Trident missile system. Each boat can carry up to 16 Trident missiles, which can carry up to 12 nuclear warheads each. The Dreadnought class will be both nuclear-powered and ballistic missile-armed. Where are they kept? The Royal Navy Submarine Service base is found in HMNB Clyde, in Scotland, known by Navy personnel as Faslane. It is 25 miles west of Glasgow and is found off the Firth of Clyde. The base is one of Scotland's largest employers, employing more than 6,000 military and civilian personnel. Situated in a relatively secluded area, the base sits among deep waters with quick access to submarine patrolling areas in the North Atlantic. What are they used for today? One of the key roles of the submarines is to act as the UK's nuclear deterrent. 'Our Vanguard class submarines - the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent force - are continually in operation: patrolling the world's oceans undetected, ready to strike at any time,' the Royal Navy website reads. 'Their presence alone sends the most powerful message to anyone who would do us harm,' it adds. With the Astute class of 'attack' or 'hunter-killer' submarines, the Royal Navy can attack surface vessels, other submarines, and targets hundreds of miles inland.
