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Dreadnought-class submarine

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This article is about the successor to the Vanguard-class. For the first RN nuclear submarine, commissioned in 1963, see HMS Dreadnought.

Artist's rendering of Dreadnought-class submarine
Class overview
BuildersBAE Systems, Barrow-in-Furness, England
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded byVanguard class
Cost
  • £31 billion (2016)[1] lifetime cost of total programme (est.)
  • £7.75 billion (2016) per unit (est.)
BuiltFirst expected by early 2030s[2]
Planned4
On order1
Building3
Completed0
Active0
General characteristics
TypeNuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
Displacement17,200 t (16,900 long tons; 19,000 short tons)
Length153.6 metres (504 ft)[3]
Beam12.8 m (42 ft 0 in)[citation needed]
Draught12 m (39 ft 4 in)[citation needed]
PropulsionRolls-Royce PWR3 nuclear reactor, turbo-electric drive, pump-jet
RangeLimited only by food and mechanical components
Complement130
Armament

The Dreadnought class is the future replacement for the Royal Navy's Vanguard class of ballistic missile submarines.[1] Like their predecessors they will carry Trident II D-5 missiles.[4] The Vanguard submarines entered service in the United Kingdom in the 1990s with an intended service life of 25 years.[5] Their replacement is necessary for maintaining a continuous at-sea deterrent (CASD), the principle of operation behind the Trident system.[6]

Provisionally named "Successor" (being the successor to the Vanguard class SSBNs), it was officially announced in 2016 that the first of class would be named Dreadnought, and that the class would be the Dreadnought class.[7][8] The next three boats will be called Valiant,[9] Warspite and King George VI.[10]

Background

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A Trident missile launches from a submarine
Main article: Trident (UK nuclear programme)

Since the retirement of the last Royal Air Force WE.177 nuclear bomb in 1998, the British nuclear arsenal has been wholly submarine-based. It is intended to deter a potential enemy because they cannot ensure eliminating the entire stockpile in a first strike if a ballistic missile submarine remains undetected.

Since the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), the UK has maintained a stockpile of around 215 warheads, with around 120 active (usable). Under the continuous at sea deterrence policy, at least one Vanguard-class SSBN is kept on patrol with up to 16 Trident missiles sharing up to 48 warheads from the stockpile at any given time. The SDR considered this was the minimum number of warheads adequate for deterrence. It is collectively known as the Trident system.[11] The majority of this system is based in Scotland at HMNB Clyde (HMS Neptune), which includes the Faslane home of the Vanguard submarines, and at RNAD Coulport on Loch Long. The oldest Vanguard-class submarine had been expected to remain in service until 2019 without a refit.[12] Since 1998, the system has also provided the Government with the option of a lower-yield, "sub-strategic" nuclear strike capability.[13] Under both the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010 and the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, the total number of warheads for the submarine on patrol would be 40 and the maximum total number of ballistic missiles would be 8.[14][15] The 2021 Integrated Review announced, however, along with a lift on the cap on warheads to no more than 260 (from 180 planned in previous reviews), any numbers or information on deployed missiles and warheads will no longer be provided, under a policy of "deliberate ambiguity".[16]

Decision

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Infographic about the Successor SSBN submarine programme.

In May 2011 the government approved the initial assessment phase for the new submarines and authorised the purchase of long lead-time items including steel for the hulls. In May 2015 the Conservative Party won the UK General Election on a manifesto which included a commitment to maintaining a CASD with four Successor submarines.[17] The final decision to commit to the Successor programme was approved on 18 July 2016 when the House of Commons voted to renew Trident by 472 votes to 117.[18] Successor generated controversy because of its cost,[19] and because some political parties and campaign groups such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and Trident Ploughshares oppose the retention of CASD or any nuclear weapons by the UK on moral or financial grounds.[20][21]

Cost

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The programme is managed by a new Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), established on 3 April 2017 within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation. BAE Systems and Rolls Royce are the programme's Tier One industrial partners.[22]

In 2011, the programme's Initial Gate report estimated costs at £25 billion. In 2015, the programme was estimated to cost £31 billion including estimated future defence inflation, design, testing and construction of the US-UK Common Missile Compartment and modernisation of shipyard facilities in Barrow, with £10 billion of additional contingency set aside. In March 2023, £2 billion of the contingency fund had been accessed to reprofile spending and bring construction forward.[22] These costs do not include the related Trident missile renewal, new infrastructure projects at the re-nationalised Atomic Weapons Establishment, and new nuclear fuel production facilities at Rolls-Royce.[22]

Once in service, annual in-service costs are expected to be approximately 6% of the defence budget (about £3 billion).[22]

Studies by the Nuclear Information Service and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament have suggested that the MOD cost presentation is under-estimating replacement programme costs. Including all related costs, including new infrastructure investment and decommissioning costs, and 30 years of in-service costs, they estimate a cost in the region of £172 to £205 billion.[22] Crispin Blunt, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, estimated in July 2016 that the renewed deterrent lifetime cost would be £179 billion.[23]

A January 2018, the National Audit Office expressed concern about the programme's spending profile, including that it was "unaffordable in the early years of the project" within the MOD allocated budget.[22][24] Subsequently the MOD moved £300 million into the Dreadnought programme from elsewhere, and later the 2018 budget added £1 billion to the defence budget, 40% of which went to the Dreadnought programme. The 2020 Spending Review allocated an extra £16.5 billion to the defence budget over 2020 to 2025, in part to "continue the renewal of the UK's nuclear deterrent".[22]

Design

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The submarines have an intended service life of around 35 to 40 years, an increase of around 50% over the previous class.[25]

The submarines will each have a crew of 130, including 3 chefs and 1 doctor. There will be separate female quarters.[26] There will be a gym space, classroom and a lighting system simulating the time of day on board.[27]

They will be powered by Rolls-Royce's PWR3 (Pressurised Water Reactor 3), compared to the PWR2 used on Vanguard and Astute class submarines.[26] Although PWR2 and PWR2b (a derivative with improvements) designs were considered, the PWR3 was chosen for easier operations, longer service life and reduced maintenance costs, with 30% fewer parts.[28][29]

It will be equipped with X-rudders, in a first on British submarines, to reduce noise, especially at high speeds, in front of the pumpjet.[30]

Unlike Vanguard-class submarines, control of movement will use "fly-by-wire" technology, with the Active Vehicle Control Management (AVCM) system from BAE Systems.[31][32]

As in use on Astute-class and Trafalgar-class submarines, it will be equipped with the Sonar 2076 system from Thales.[33]

They will each have 3 missile compartments with 4 missile tubes each (quad packs), with a total of 12 missile tubes. These share a common design with those on American Columbia-class submarines, as part of the "Common Missile Compartment" (CMC) scheme. There will be 5 deck levels.[16][26][27]

Construction

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Construction started in late 2016 at the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard operated by BAE Systems Submarines, when the first submarine was provisionally expected to enter service in 2028.[34] The start of construction of the second phase was announced in May 2018.[35] As of 2018, MOD expected the first submarine to enter service in the early 2030s. Total programme cost was expected to be £31 billion.

In October 2018, Cammell Laird was awarded a contract to manufacture 29 non-pressure hull sections in Birkenhead.[27]

The MOD said in December 2018 that construction of the first submarine was on schedule and within budget.[36] In April 2021, The Sunday Times reported that delays on the Astute class submarines may impact the Dreadnought class, which will be built in the same dock hall. Related concerns are a 19 month delay to an extension of the Barrow facility and a five year delay to a Rolls-Royce factory which will build the nuclear reactors.[37] However, the Ministry of Defence commented that "the Dreadnought programme remains on track to deliver to schedule, with the first in class expected to enter service in the early 2030s."[37]

Thales Glasgow was awarded a £193 million contract in July 2023, to provide optronic masts, similar to those in use on Astute-class submarines.[38]

General Dynamics Mission Systems is to provide and maintain fire control systems for both Dreadnought-class and American Columbia-class submarines.[39]

75 missile tube assemblies for both Dreadnought-class and American Columbia-class submarines will be manufactured by Babcock in Rosyth and Bristol.[40]

Northrop Grumman will provide the launcher subsystem hardware for the common missile compartments in both platforms, under a $458m contract in June 2022.[28]

In January 2025, Rolls Royce was awarded a £9 billion contract by the MOD, covering research, design, manufacture and support of all nuclear reactors in Royal Navy submarines. The contract, named “Unity”, covers a period of 8 years, and will continue to support the delivery of the reactors for Dreadnought class submarines. Defence Secretary John Healey said "This investment in Britain’s defence will deliver a long-term boost to British business, jobs and national security."[41][42]

Boats of the class

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Name Builder Steel cut Launched Commissioned Status
Dreadnought BAE Systems Submarines,
Barrow-in-Furness 		6 October 2016[43] Expected early 2030s Under construction
Valiant September 2019[44] Under construction
Warspite 9 February 2023[45] Under construction
King George VI Announced

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Successor submarine programme: factsheet". MoD. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  2. ^ "HMS Audacious: 6 Feb 2020: UIN 10350 Hansard Written Answers". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Dreadnought". BAE Systems.
  4. ^ "The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent, Factsheet 4 The Current System" (PDF). Gov.uk. December 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  5. ^ Vanguard class[usurped] Military-Today.com. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Supporting the UK's deterrent". AWE. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  7. ^ "New Successor Submarines Named" (Press release). Gov.uk. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  8. ^ "First of Barrow's new Successor submarines given historically celebrated name". North West Evening Mail. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Defence Secretary announces £400m investment for nuclear-armed submarines" (Press release). Ministry of Defence. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  10. ^ "Defence Secretary praises 50 years of nuclear service as new submarine is named" (Press release). Ministry of Defence. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  11. ^ "The Future of the UK's Strategic Nuclear Deterrent" (PDF). House of Commons Defence Committee. 30 June 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2006.
  12. ^ "The Future of the UK's Strategic Nuclear Deterrent: the White Paper" (PDF). House of Commons Defence Committee. 7 March 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2007.
  13. ^ "Annex A: Making Trident more usable and more threatening". Select Committee on Defence Written Evidence. Greenpeace. 20 June 2006. Retrieved 2 June 2012 – via House of Commons.
  14. ^ "National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 A Secure and Prosperous United Kingdom" (PDF). gov.uk. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review" (PDF). HM Government. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  16. ^ a b Mills, Claire (3 May 2023). "Nuclear weapons at a glance: United Kingdom" (PDF). House of Commons Library. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Conservative Party Manifesto 2015" (PDF). Conservative Party. p. 77. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  18. ^ Mills, Claire (10 March 2015). "The Trident Successor Programme: an update" (PDF). Standard Notes. House of Commons Library. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Britain denies report nuclear deterrent to cost 167 billion pounds". Reuters. 10 November 2015. Archived from the original on 21 July 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  20. ^ "Trident debate to top CND agenda". BBC News. 14 October 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2006.
  21. ^ "Unions oppose replacing Trident". BBC News. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2006.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g Mills, Claire (3 May 2023). "Replacing the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent: Progress of the Dreadnought class" (PDF). House of Commons Library. UK Parliament. CBP-8010. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  23. ^ Allison, George (18 July 2016). "British parliament votes to renew Trident". UK Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  24. ^ Tovey, Alan (22 May 2018). "Royal Navy's nuclear submarines face £6bn black hole". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 21 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  25. ^ Ministry of Defence nuclear programme (PDF). Committee of Public Accounts (Report). UK Parliament. 10 September 2018. HC 1028. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  26. ^ a b c "Dreadnought Class". Royal Navy. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  27. ^ a b c "Progress on the Royal Navy's Dreadnought class submarine programme". Navy Lookout. 10 December 2020.
  28. ^ a b "Dreadnought-Class Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarines". Naval Technology. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  29. ^ "Nuclear – Engineering Excellence" (PDF). Rolls-Royce. 2016.
  30. ^ "Deep dive into the Dreadnought-class Trident nuclear submarines". Forces News. 22 November 2023.
  31. ^ "Flight control technology set to dive underwater for marine mobility". BAE Systems. 28 March 2021.
  32. ^ "Dreadnought-class submarines to get 'fly-by-wire' technology". Royal Navy. 1 April 2021.
  33. ^ "Thales to deliver next-generation sonar systems for the Royal Navy's Dreadnought submarines | Thales Group". Thales Group. 28 February 2020.
  34. ^ "Successor submarine shipyard gets £300m investment". BBC News. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  35. ^ "Defence Secretary announces massive £2.5bn investment in UK nuclear submarines". Gov.UK. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  36. ^ "UK Dreadnought submarine programme within budget and on track, says latest MoD report".
  37. ^ a b Collingridge, John (25 April 2021). "Are Britain's nuclear subs slipping below the waves?; First they were due in 2024, then 2028, then 'the 2030s'. Doubts are mounting over the new Trident boats". The Sunday Times.
  38. ^ "Scope for success as historic Glasgow firm wins £169m contract for Dreadnought 'periscopes'". Royal Navy. 13 July 2023.
  39. ^ Hill, John (23 January 2024). "General Dynamics remains integral to US and UK submarine ecosystem". Naval Technology.
  40. ^ "Babcock awarded multimillion pound missile tube contract extension by Electric Boat". Babcock International Group. 2 June 2020.
  41. ^ "Rolls-Royce signs £9bn UK MoD deal for submarine reactor support". Nuclear Engineering International. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  42. ^ "Rolls-Royce signs landmark Unity contract with UK Ministry of Defence". Rolls-Royce. 24 January 2025.
  43. ^ "Building begins on new nuclear submarines". Royal Navy. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  44. ^ "Progress on the Royal Navy's Dreadnought class submarine programme". Navy Lookout. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  45. ^ "Construction starts on the third Dreadnought Class submarine". BAe Systems. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.

Further reading

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