Britain's defence ministry said Monday it had placed a 200-million-pound (295-million-euro, 395-million-dollar) contract to construct a new nuclear-powered attack submarine, it said Monday. The 7,800-tonne vessel, to be named HMS Audacious, will be the fourth in the Astute class of submarines, which are the largest and most powerful of their type ever built in Britain for the Royal Navy.
Assembly is expected to start later this year at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, north-west England, where three other Astute class vessels — Astute, Ambush and Artful — are already under construction.
The defence equipment and support minister Lord Paul Drayson said in a statement: "Today's announcement demonstrates our commitment to the attack submarine programme…
"It also demonstrates our commitment to the Royal Navy, which needs these submarines to fulfil its duties around the globe."
HMS Astute is to be launched next month, said First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band.
The Astute class submarines will replace the two Swiftsure and seven Trafalgar class vessels that have been in service since the 1970s and 1980s respectively.
They will be equipped with improved communications systems to support joint operations and an enhanced ability to operate in shallower coastal waters.
Astute class boats have a maximum dived displacement of 7,800 tonnes, are 97 metres (318-feet) long, have a crew of 98 and will be equipped with Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
They will carry more of these weapons than existing submarines.
The order comes amid opposition to government proposals to renew Britain's Trident missile nuclear deterrent, which is carried by four Vanguard class submarines.
Source: Agence France-Presse
