Dreadnought Submarine Programme
Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK · 2016–Ongoing (construction started late 2016, first submarine expected to enter service in the early 2030s) · £31bn (estimated total cost for 4 submarines, including inflation over life of programme), £10bn (contingency fund)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchThe Dreadnought programme is critical for maintaining the UK's continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent. - The project represents a significant national endeavor, sustaining thousands of highly skilled jobs. - The use of a Dreadnought Alliance demonstrates a collaborative approach to managing a highly complex and strategic defence programme. - The programme highlights the long lead times and substantial investment required for strategic defence capabilities.
Key engineering challenges
Designing and constructing one of the most complex machines ever built, operating in hostile environments. - Managing the integration of advanced nuclear propulsion, missile systems, and stealth technologies. - Ensuring the highest levels of safety and security for a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. - Overcoming the technical and logistical challenges of building such large and complex vessels within a specialized shipyard.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence
- Lead contractor
- BAE Systems Submarines (prime contractor), Dreadnought Alliance (collaboration between MOD, BAE Systems, and Rolls-Royce)
- Lead designers
- BAE Systems
- Project type
- new build (vessel/fleet programme)
- Scale
- Four Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarines; replacement for Vanguard-class; biggest, most powerful, and technically advanced submarines for the Royal Navy.
- Disciplines
- Naval Architecture; Marine Engineering; Nuclear Engineering; Systems Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Defence Engineering; Shipbuilding
- Standards & frameworks
- Royal Navy standards, UK Ministry of Defence procurement regulations, nuclear safety regulations, international shipbuilding standards.
Sources: BAE Systems: Dreadnought class submarines (https://www.baesystems.com/en/product/dreadnought) - Wikipedia: Dreadnought-class submarine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadnought-class_submarine) - UK Parliament: Replacing the UK's Nuclear Deterrent: Progress of the... (https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8010/) - GOV.UK: Dreadnought submarine programme: factsheet (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/successor-submarine-programme-factsheet/successor-submarine-programme-factsheet) - Naval Technology: Dreadnought-Class Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile... (https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/dreadnought-class-nuclear-powered-ballistic-missile-submarines/)