The British Royal Navy’s Dreadnought nuclear deterrent submarine programme has secured a further £400m in funding, UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced.
Dreadnought is the replacement programme for the Royal Navy’s Trident missile Vanguard-class submarines, which form the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
The UK Defence Secretary also revealed that the second Dreadnought nuclear-powered submarine will be named HMS Valiant. The first boat of the class is to be named Dreadnought.
The latest investment is part of the £31bn Dreadnought programme and supply chain.
Williamson said: “Next year marks half-a-century since British nuclear-armed submarines began patrolling the waters in response to the danger posed by the Cold War, and the world is again facing a raft of intensifying threats.
“This £400m investment will ensure the Dreadnought programme remains on track, so we continue to have a nuclear deterrent at sea for decades to come. Not only does today’s news see us safeguard 8,000 jobs right now, but I have also opened a brand new multi-million-pound facility to train Britain’s submarine engineers of the future.”
BAE Systems is constructing the Dreadnought-class and seven Astute-class nuclear attack submarines for the British Royal Navy.
Williamson unveiled a £25m BAE Systems’ ‘Submarine Academy for Skills and Knowledge’ in Barrow-in-Furness as part of the announcement.
The new academy will provide skills and training to around 2,500 people a month, which in turn will help the Dreadnought and Astute submarine programmes.
BAE Systems submarines managing director Cliff Robson said: “The new academy will give our current and future workforce access to the very latest in learning and development, demonstrating our lasting commitment not just to our current employees but to those who will join our company in years to come.”
