AUKUS
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From: South Pole
The main difference between the Block 3 & Block 4 Virginia’s is the strong push to reduce the maintenance requirements. The Block 4’s are able to do one more deployment in their planned life compared to the earlier versions - when you look at the cost of running nuclear submarines, this is a significant gain.
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: South Pole
This is a typical media release but, if it is based on truth, then work has started on some long lead items for the SSN AUKUS class vessels.
🚧🇬🇧 Forging the Future Beneath the Waves: UK's SSN-AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Construction Begins! ⚙️🌊
🛠️ A silent revolution is taking shape beneath British shipyards…
The UK has officially kicked off construction efforts for its next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine, the SSN-AUKUS, in a major leap forward for the Royal Navy and the trilateral AUKUS alliance 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇦🇺. In an announcement that signals the beginning of a new era in undersea dominance, Babcock—a key British defense contractor—has confirmed the start of long-lead work on this cutting-edge vessel.
🔩 What's Happening?
During the past financial year, Babcock secured contracts to begin work on the submarine’s weapon handling and launch systems—the technological heart of what will become one of the world’s most advanced hunter-killer subs. These systems will enable rapid deployment of torpedoes, cruise missiles, and future hypersonic weapons, ensuring that Britain remains at the forefront of underwater warfare for decades to come.
⚓ What Is SSN-AUKUS?
SSN-AUKUS is the new breed of stealthy, lethal and high-tech nuclear-powered attack submarines co-developed under the landmark AUKUS pact, combining British shipbuilding heritage, American tech ingenuity, and Australian strategic commitment. The UK’s submarines will replace the aging Astute-class, bringing superior range, stealth, endurance, and multi-mission capabilities to NATO’s underwater front lines.
💥 Powerful Highlights
🔹 Reactor: Next-gen nuclear propulsion for decades of underwater endurance
🔹 Stealth: Advanced acoustic quieting and sonar-absorbing coatings
🔹 Weapons: Compatible with Tomahawk missiles, future hypersonics, and new autonomous undersea drones
🔹 Crew Comfort: Redesigned interior for improved habitability and mission duration
🔹 AI & Combat Systems: Integrated digital combat brain with real-time battlefield awareness and AI-enabled targeting 🧠🎯
🏗️ Why Long-Lead Work Matters
The term “long-lead” refers to critical components that require extensive design, precision manufacturing, and years of assembly time—things like launch tubes, missile bays, or reactor housings. Starting now ensures the Royal Navy will take delivery of these submarines on schedule in the 2030s, preserving strategic deterrence and combat readiness well into the mid-21st century.
💬 “This work represents not only an industrial milestone but a national one. SSN-AUKUS will be the most advanced attack submarine Britain has ever built,” said a senior Babcock official.
🌐 Strategic Edge for the UK and Allies
With growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific and the resurgence of great power competition, these vessels will become the tip of the spear in global naval strategy—patrolling silently, gathering intelligence, and capable of striking targets from the deep with pinpoint accuracy.
💷 Budget & Timeline
The UK government is expected to invest £3+ billion in early development, with total program costs reaching £30+ billion over the next 20 years. The first British SSN-AUKUS is anticipated to enter service by the late 2030s, complementing Australia’s own SSN-AUKUS production at Osborne Naval Shipyard.
🚧🇬🇧 Forging the Future Beneath the Waves: UK's SSN-AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Construction Begins! ⚙️🌊
🛠️ A silent revolution is taking shape beneath British shipyards…
The UK has officially kicked off construction efforts for its next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine, the SSN-AUKUS, in a major leap forward for the Royal Navy and the trilateral AUKUS alliance 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇦🇺. In an announcement that signals the beginning of a new era in undersea dominance, Babcock—a key British defense contractor—has confirmed the start of long-lead work on this cutting-edge vessel.
🔩 What's Happening?
During the past financial year, Babcock secured contracts to begin work on the submarine’s weapon handling and launch systems—the technological heart of what will become one of the world’s most advanced hunter-killer subs. These systems will enable rapid deployment of torpedoes, cruise missiles, and future hypersonic weapons, ensuring that Britain remains at the forefront of underwater warfare for decades to come.
⚓ What Is SSN-AUKUS?
SSN-AUKUS is the new breed of stealthy, lethal and high-tech nuclear-powered attack submarines co-developed under the landmark AUKUS pact, combining British shipbuilding heritage, American tech ingenuity, and Australian strategic commitment. The UK’s submarines will replace the aging Astute-class, bringing superior range, stealth, endurance, and multi-mission capabilities to NATO’s underwater front lines.
💥 Powerful Highlights
🔹 Reactor: Next-gen nuclear propulsion for decades of underwater endurance
🔹 Stealth: Advanced acoustic quieting and sonar-absorbing coatings
🔹 Weapons: Compatible with Tomahawk missiles, future hypersonics, and new autonomous undersea drones
🔹 Crew Comfort: Redesigned interior for improved habitability and mission duration
🔹 AI & Combat Systems: Integrated digital combat brain with real-time battlefield awareness and AI-enabled targeting 🧠🎯
🏗️ Why Long-Lead Work Matters
The term “long-lead” refers to critical components that require extensive design, precision manufacturing, and years of assembly time—things like launch tubes, missile bays, or reactor housings. Starting now ensures the Royal Navy will take delivery of these submarines on schedule in the 2030s, preserving strategic deterrence and combat readiness well into the mid-21st century.
💬 “This work represents not only an industrial milestone but a national one. SSN-AUKUS will be the most advanced attack submarine Britain has ever built,” said a senior Babcock official.
🌐 Strategic Edge for the UK and Allies
With growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific and the resurgence of great power competition, these vessels will become the tip of the spear in global naval strategy—patrolling silently, gathering intelligence, and capable of striking targets from the deep with pinpoint accuracy.
💷 Budget & Timeline
The UK government is expected to invest £3+ billion in early development, with total program costs reaching £30+ billion over the next 20 years. The first British SSN-AUKUS is anticipated to enter service by the late 2030s, complementing Australia’s own SSN-AUKUS production at Osborne Naval Shipyard.
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
Not directly AUKUS - but showing Dreadnaught is moving ahead and clearing the way for AUKUs in the future with the PWR3 reactor etc.
Stern section of HMS Dreadnought moved into the Devonshire Dock Hall this week @BAES_Maritime
The largest submarine component ever transported by road in the UK.
The largest submarine component ever transported by road in the UK.
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From: Ferrara
"Not directly AUKUS - but showing Dreadnaught is moving ahead "
At least they won't have to do that sort of trip at Port Adelaide.
You'd have thought they might have bought up and demolished some of the buildings on the tighter turns.......
At least they won't have to do that sort of trip at Port Adelaide.
You'd have thought they might have bought up and demolished some of the buildings on the tighter turns.......
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From: York
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From: Glorious Devon
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From: Australia
What can be seen under the 'bin bag' is the arrangement of the pressure hull and the outer fairing around it. These days, internet searches give AI explanations first, but from that:
"The Dreadnought class, like many modern submarines, utilizes a double hull structure. The outer hull, or casing, is designed to be hydrodynamic and free-flooding, meaning it is not pressurized and allows water to flow through it..."
A lot of free flooding space then!
"The Dreadnought class, like many modern submarines, utilizes a double hull structure. The outer hull, or casing, is designed to be hydrodynamic and free-flooding, meaning it is not pressurized and allows water to flow through it..."
A lot of free flooding space then!
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 638
Likes: 101
From: australia
'Enormous value': UK's top AUKUS envoy insists the pact delivers for the US - ABC News
The senior UK civil servant will visit Henderson shipyard in Perth on Thursday and says Australia may need to "look carefully" at further ramping up investment in the new naval precinct.
Video
UK ‘not worried’ about US review of AUKUS - ABC News
The announcement that the Pentagon was conducting a review of AUKUS
The UK government held its own review of the program last year, conducted by the country's top advisor for the project, Sir Stephen Lovegrove.
'Enormous value': UK's top AUKUS envoy insists the pact delivers for the US
Sir Stephen Lovegrove has talked up the benefits of AUKUS for the US, UK and Australia amid a snap review by Trump administration.The senior UK civil servant will visit Henderson shipyard in Perth on Thursday and says Australia may need to "look carefully" at further ramping up investment in the new naval precinct.
Video
UK ‘not worried’ about US review of AUKUS - ABC News
The announcement that the Pentagon was conducting a review of AUKUS
The UK government held its own review of the program last year, conducted by the country's top advisor for the project, Sir Stephen Lovegrove.
Last edited by golder; 9th July 2025 at 13:53.
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: South Pole
The latest leaks wrt the US review into the AUKUS Agreement is, they will demand that, in the event of a US conflict with China (over Taiwan), the RAN’s Virgnia’s would be made available to participate in the US battle plan.
Such a case of ceding sovereign control of RAN vessels to a foreign power will probably be a step too far for the Australian people (& government) so, I would not be surprised if the British & Australian defence planners come up with a revised timeline whereby the SSN AUKUS program is accelerated so that the RAN can replace the Collins class directly with these submarines without having to acquire Virginias as a stopgap measure. This should result in significant savings in acquisition, logistics and training costs as well as being a smoother transition.
At the time that the original AUKUS timeline was being planned, the British government had no interest in early development of their replacement for the Astute class as other defence priorities had been allocated the available funds. Now that the Defence threat is perceived to be more significant and near term, the British government have announced that they are accelerating the development of SSN AUKUS so this aligns with a potential new “optimum pathway” that dispenses with the interim Virginia class and reduces the US involvement in the process. They would still be providing some technology (including the combat system) for the new submarines but wouldn’t have to free up vessels from the USN fleet.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/au...6-c8baeefe1567
Such a case of ceding sovereign control of RAN vessels to a foreign power will probably be a step too far for the Australian people (& government) so, I would not be surprised if the British & Australian defence planners come up with a revised timeline whereby the SSN AUKUS program is accelerated so that the RAN can replace the Collins class directly with these submarines without having to acquire Virginias as a stopgap measure. This should result in significant savings in acquisition, logistics and training costs as well as being a smoother transition.
At the time that the original AUKUS timeline was being planned, the British government had no interest in early development of their replacement for the Astute class as other defence priorities had been allocated the available funds. Now that the Defence threat is perceived to be more significant and near term, the British government have announced that they are accelerating the development of SSN AUKUS so this aligns with a potential new “optimum pathway” that dispenses with the interim Virginia class and reduces the US involvement in the process. They would still be providing some technology (including the combat system) for the new submarines but wouldn’t have to free up vessels from the USN fleet.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/au...6-c8baeefe1567
Last edited by Going Boeing; 10th July 2025 at 04:59.
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From: Texas
At the moment, the US and Aussies are doing some exercises together.
Sadly, even in peacetime training being at sea has its hazards.
RIP, shipmate. 
Sadly, even in peacetime training being at sea has its hazards.
The search for Airman Jose Antonio Rivera Lynch was suspended on July 30, two days after he went missing in the Timor Sea. The U.S. Navy has identified a sailor who went missing during a training exercise while onboard the USS George Washington in the ocean north of Australia. On Thursday, July 31, USS George Washington spokesperson, Lieutenant Commander Mark Langford, confirmed in an email to PEOPLE that it was "with a heavy heart" that the search for the sailor had been suspended as of Wednesday, July 30. It comes after the U.S. Navy announced that they had responded to reports of “a possible sailor overboard” in the Timor Sea, in a Monday, July 28 release.
The missing male has now been identified as Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Launch/Recovery Equipment) Airman Jose Antonio Rivera Lynch IV, per a release posted online and obtained by PEOPLE, alongside a photograph of the sailor.
The aircraft carrier is currently operating in the Timor Sea as part of the multinational Talisman Sabre 25 exercise organized by Australia and the U.S., per USNI News.
"After more than 45 hours of continuous search and rescue efforts covering roughly 2,200 square miles, the U.S. Navy and Australian Defence and Australian Border Forces suspended search efforts in the Timor Sea on July 30," the release shared on Friday, Aug. 1, stated, noting that the search had involved multiple U.S. Navy vessels.
The release confirmed that the search for the missing sailor involved "U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77, HSM 51, Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86)." "Fixed wing aircraft attached to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, two P-8 Poseidon aircraft and patrol boat from the Australian Defence Force, Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Otway, and an Australian Border Force Dash-8 aircraft [also] assisted in the search," the post added.
The missing male has now been identified as Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Launch/Recovery Equipment) Airman Jose Antonio Rivera Lynch IV, per a release posted online and obtained by PEOPLE, alongside a photograph of the sailor.
The aircraft carrier is currently operating in the Timor Sea as part of the multinational Talisman Sabre 25 exercise organized by Australia and the U.S., per USNI News.
"After more than 45 hours of continuous search and rescue efforts covering roughly 2,200 square miles, the U.S. Navy and Australian Defence and Australian Border Forces suspended search efforts in the Timor Sea on July 30," the release shared on Friday, Aug. 1, stated, noting that the search had involved multiple U.S. Navy vessels.
The release confirmed that the search for the missing sailor involved "U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77, HSM 51, Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86)." "Fixed wing aircraft attached to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, two P-8 Poseidon aircraft and patrol boat from the Australian Defence Force, Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Otway, and an Australian Border Force Dash-8 aircraft [also] assisted in the search," the post added.
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
https://www.defensenews.com/congress...-and-uk-alive/
Lawmakers exhort Trump: Keep security pact with Australia and UK alive
U.S. lawmakers from both parties are urging the Trump administration to maintain a three-way security partnership designed to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines — a plea that comes as the Pentagon reviews the agreement and considers the questions it has raised about the American industrial infrastructure’s shipbuilding capabilities.
Two weeks ago, the Defense Department announced it would review AUKUS, the 4-year-old pact signed by the Biden administration with Australia and the United Kingdom. The announcement means the Republican administration is looking closely at a partnership that many believe is critical to the U.S. strategy to push back China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. The review is expected to be completed in the fall.
“AUKUS is essential to strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and advancing the undersea capabilities that will be central to ensuring peace and stability,” Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan and Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois wrote in a July 22 letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Moolenaar chairs the House panel on China and Krishnamoorthi is its top Democrat.
The review comes as the Trump administration works to rebalance its global security concerns while struggling with a hollowed-out industrial base that has hamstrung U.S. capabilities to build enough warships. The review is being led by Elbridge Colby, the No. 3 Pentagon official, who has expressed skepticism about the partnership.
“If we can produce the attack submarines in sufficient number and sufficient speed, then great. But if we can’t, that becomes a very difficult problem,” Colby said during his confirmation hearing in March. “This is getting back to restoring our defense industrial capacity so that we don’t have to face these awful choices but rather can be in a position where we can produce not only for ourselves, but for our allies.”……..
Defense policy is one of the few areas where Republican lawmakers have pushed back against the Trump administration, but their resolve is being tested with the Pentagon’s review of AUKUS. So far, they have joined their Democratic colleagues in voicing support for the partnership.
They said the U.S. submarine industry is rebounding with congressional appropriations totaling $10 billion since 2018 to ensure the U.S. will have enough ships to allow for sales to Australia.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told the AP that support for AUKUS is strong and bipartisan, “certainly on the Armed Services Committee.”
“There is a little bit of mystification about the analysis done at the Pentagon,” Kaine said, adding that “maybe [what] the analysis will say is: We believe this is a good thing.”
Lawmakers exhort Trump: Keep security pact with Australia and UK alive
U.S. lawmakers from both parties are urging the Trump administration to maintain a three-way security partnership designed to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines — a plea that comes as the Pentagon reviews the agreement and considers the questions it has raised about the American industrial infrastructure’s shipbuilding capabilities.
Two weeks ago, the Defense Department announced it would review AUKUS, the 4-year-old pact signed by the Biden administration with Australia and the United Kingdom. The announcement means the Republican administration is looking closely at a partnership that many believe is critical to the U.S. strategy to push back China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. The review is expected to be completed in the fall.
“AUKUS is essential to strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and advancing the undersea capabilities that will be central to ensuring peace and stability,” Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan and Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois wrote in a July 22 letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Moolenaar chairs the House panel on China and Krishnamoorthi is its top Democrat.
The review comes as the Trump administration works to rebalance its global security concerns while struggling with a hollowed-out industrial base that has hamstrung U.S. capabilities to build enough warships. The review is being led by Elbridge Colby, the No. 3 Pentagon official, who has expressed skepticism about the partnership.
“If we can produce the attack submarines in sufficient number and sufficient speed, then great. But if we can’t, that becomes a very difficult problem,” Colby said during his confirmation hearing in March. “This is getting back to restoring our defense industrial capacity so that we don’t have to face these awful choices but rather can be in a position where we can produce not only for ourselves, but for our allies.”……..
Defense policy is one of the few areas where Republican lawmakers have pushed back against the Trump administration, but their resolve is being tested with the Pentagon’s review of AUKUS. So far, they have joined their Democratic colleagues in voicing support for the partnership.
They said the U.S. submarine industry is rebounding with congressional appropriations totaling $10 billion since 2018 to ensure the U.S. will have enough ships to allow for sales to Australia.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told the AP that support for AUKUS is strong and bipartisan, “certainly on the Armed Services Committee.”
“There is a little bit of mystification about the analysis done at the Pentagon,” Kaine said, adding that “maybe [what] the analysis will say is: We believe this is a good thing.”
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 638
Likes: 101
From: australia
world’s first real-world test of a quantum gravimeter at sea, carried out aboard the MV Sycamore.
Q-CTRL's New Maritime Quantum Navigation Solution Successfully Undergoes First Defense Trials at Sea | Q-CTRL
Q-CTRL, the global leader in quantum infrastructure software, today unveiled groundbreaking advancements in software-ruggedized quantum sensing for navigation in a major field trial with Australian Defence on board the Royal Australian Navy’s Multi-role Aviation Training Vessel (MATV), MV Sycamore. The results of this major maritime trial reinforce Q-CTRL’s leadership in the development and deployment of quantum-assured navigation solutions, now expanding into maritime operations.
“Quantum sensors provide a near-term opportunity to achieve transformational defense capabilities, but previous deployments in the field have struggled to deliver defense-relevant performance,” said Q-CTRL CEO and Founder, Michael J. Biercuk.
Michael J. Biercuk - Wikipedia
Deep-space radar in Australia begins tracking satellites for AUKUS partners - SpaceNews
A new deep-space radar site in Western Australia, built under a trilateral partnership between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, has demonstrated it can track objects in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO),
Q-CTRL's New Maritime Quantum Navigation Solution Successfully Undergoes First Defense Trials at Sea | Q-CTRL
Q-CTRL, the global leader in quantum infrastructure software, today unveiled groundbreaking advancements in software-ruggedized quantum sensing for navigation in a major field trial with Australian Defence on board the Royal Australian Navy’s Multi-role Aviation Training Vessel (MATV), MV Sycamore. The results of this major maritime trial reinforce Q-CTRL’s leadership in the development and deployment of quantum-assured navigation solutions, now expanding into maritime operations.
“Quantum sensors provide a near-term opportunity to achieve transformational defense capabilities, but previous deployments in the field have struggled to deliver defense-relevant performance,” said Q-CTRL CEO and Founder, Michael J. Biercuk.
Michael J. Biercuk - Wikipedia
Deep-space radar in Australia begins tracking satellites for AUKUS partners - SpaceNews
Deep-space radar in Australia begins tracking satellites for AUKUS partners
The facility is the first location in the Deep-Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) networkA new deep-space radar site in Western Australia, built under a trilateral partnership between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, has demonstrated it can track objects in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO),
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Australia OZ
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Texas
Gramps says that landing with lateral drift arrested, which prevents dynamic rollover, isn't something that radar can help with. (I refer to Grampaw Pettibone...)
“Quantum sensors provide a near-term opportunity to achieve transformational defense capabilities, but previous deployments in the field have struggled to deliver defense-relevant performance,” said Q-CTRL CEO and Founder, Michael J. Biercuk.
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Australia OZ
This is the ORCAs thread, so DRIFTING - even laterally - is allowable; ROLL OVER LAFFING not so much. PettyBone Picketh.
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/king...ack-submarine/
King commissions Royal Navy’s newest attack submarine
His Majesty King Charles has officially commissioned HMS Agamemnon, the Royal Navy’s sixth Astute-class attack submarine, during a ceremony at BAE Systems’ Barrow-in-Furness shipyard.Around
500 guests, including senior politicians, naval leaders, industry executives and families of the crew, attended the commissioning. The ceremony included addresses from Defence Secretary John Healey, First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, and BAE Systems chief executive Charles Woodburn......
On the same day, steel was cut for HMS King George VI, the fourth and final Dreadnought-class submarine. Once completed, the class will ensure the UK’s nuclear deterrent remains unbroken well into the 2060s.
To recognise Barrow’s historic role in British shipbuilding and submarine construction, the King also visited the town hall where he formally granted the title of Royal Port of Barrow.
King commissions Royal Navy’s newest attack submarine
His Majesty King Charles has officially commissioned HMS Agamemnon, the Royal Navy’s sixth Astute-class attack submarine, during a ceremony at BAE Systems’ Barrow-in-Furness shipyard.Around
500 guests, including senior politicians, naval leaders, industry executives and families of the crew, attended the commissioning. The ceremony included addresses from Defence Secretary John Healey, First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, and BAE Systems chief executive Charles Woodburn......
On the same day, steel was cut for HMS King George VI, the fourth and final Dreadnought-class submarine. Once completed, the class will ensure the UK’s nuclear deterrent remains unbroken well into the 2060s.
To recognise Barrow’s historic role in British shipbuilding and submarine construction, the King also visited the town hall where he formally granted the title of Royal Port of Barrow.