BAE Systems awarded additional Astute SSN funding

BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines has received the balance of funding from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the build, outfit, test and commissioning of Audacious , the fourth of seven Astute class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) for the Royal Navy (RN).

Announcing the award on 10 December 2012, the MoD also confirmed that a further GBP1.5 billion (USD2.4 billion) had been committed to the remaining three submarines in the class; this includes funding for early build work on Astute Boat 5, to be named Anson , which was laid down in October 2011.

Manufacture activities for Audacious began at BAE Systems' Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, facility in 2007. The boat is almost half way through its build programme, with all pressure hull units now assembled in the Devonshire Dock Hall facility at Barrow awaiting consolidation.

According to BAE Systems, the full contract value for the design, build, test and commissioning of Audacious aggregates to GBP1.2 billion. Out of this, around GBP640 million of funding had been previously appropriated.

Compared with the first three Astute-class boats, Audacious incorporates a number of design changes. Most relate to the submarine's combat system (primarily its command, navigation and sonar systems).