BAE Systems Gets £5.9bn for UK Dreadnought Submarines
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- BAE Systems secured a £5.9bn UK Government contract to progress the four-boat Dreadnought Class nuclear deterrent submarine programme toward entry into service.
- Dreadnought, the first-of-class boat, continues construction at BAE Systems' Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, with delivery to the Royal Navy scheduled for the early 2030s.
- The contract also funds continued build of Valiant (boat two) plus fabrication and outfitting of boats three and four, Warspite and King George VI, which remain in early-stage construction.
- The new submarines will replace the existing Vanguard fleet, ensuring continuation of the UK's Continuous at Sea Deterrent (CASD) capability.
- The BAE Systems contract is part of a wider £8.4bn funding package approved by parliament for the Ministry of Defence.
- The build programme is being delivered in collaboration with the MOD's Defence Nuclear Enterprise, the partnership that operates, maintains and sustains the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Why it matters: BAE Systems' Barrow-in-Furness shipyard lands a £5.9bn contract — part of a broader £8.4bn parliamentary package — funding continued build of four Dreadnought Class submarines to replace the Vanguard fleet and sustain the UK's Continuous at Sea Deterrent from the early 2030s.
