BAE to begin work on UK’s multi-billion pound nuclear fleet
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has revealed details of a £1.3 billion deal with BAE systems to start work on the UK's new nuclear submarine fleet under the Successor program.
Successor is the replacement submarine to the Vanguard Class and was given the green light in July when parliamentvoted to renew the controversial Trident weapons system.
The vote, which ratified plans underlined in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, authorises the construction of four submarines to replace the ageing fleet at an estimated cost of £31 billion.
Fallon revealed that this BAE deal will allow the project to move into ‘Delivery Phase 1’, meaning work can start on the“auxiliary machine space” of the first submarine; consisting of switchboards and control panels for the reactor.
The budget also allocates funds for the continued design of the submarine, associated purchases and infrastructural investments at the BAE Systems yard in Barrow-in-Furness where the submarines will be built.
Fallon will visit the yard next week for the ceremonial, ‘steel cut’, to mark the start of work.
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