2-10-2023 (LONDON) The United Kingdom has finalized contracts worth £4 billion (US$4.8 billion) to fund the next phase of the SSN-AUKUS project, a cutting-edge attack submarine initiative, as announced by government officials. This significant agreement involves prominent British companies, namely BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and Babcock, and is part of the AUKUS military alliance between the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, aimed at countering China’s influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Speaking at the Conservative Party’s annual conference in Manchester on Sunday, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps emphasized the strategic advantage that these submarines will provide to the Royal Navy. He stated, “(The) submarines will empower the Royal Navy to maintain our strategic advantage under the sea.”
The joint submarine project, unveiled by AUKUS leaders in March, involves Australia replacing its existing diesel-powered submarines with nuclear-powered ones boasting superior stealth capabilities and extended range. Under the plan, Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines from the United States and collaborate with US and British technology to build a new model. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed this initiative as “the most important multilateral defence agreement for generations.”
BAE Systems, in a separate statement, highlighted that the future SSN-AUKUS submarines will be the largest, most powerful, and technologically advanced vessels supplied to the Royal Navy. The company outlined that the investment will cover development work until 2028 and result in the recruitment of over 5,000 individuals at its Barrow-in-Furness facility in northern England.
The first submarines from this project are expected to be delivered in the late 2030s. Nuclear-powered submarines are renowned for their stealth capabilities, extended endurance, and ability to carry sophisticated cruise missiles, making them difficult to detect and enabling them to travel long distances for extended periods.
