Following the agreement signed by the leaders of the UK, US and Australia (AUKUS) in March, the UK Ministry of Defence has just announced the award of a £4 billion contract (VND 118,494 billion) to BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Babcock to begin the design and development phase of a new generation attack submarine called SSN-AUKUS. This class of submarine will be nuclear-powered and use conventional weapons.
Model photo of SSN-AUKUS ship
The SSNAUKUS will be the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarine in the Navy's fleet, incorporating world- leading sensors, designs and weapons, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The new contract will fund development until 2028, including design, prototype building, procurement of key components and infrastructure. The submarines will be built primarily at the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard in the north-west of the country. The funding will also help employ more than 5,000 people.
The AUKUS cooperation framework was established in September 2021 to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines to replace its old diesel-electric class. According to AFP, Australia will buy nuclear-powered submarines from the US and build a new generation of submarines with US and British technology. The UK plans to deploy the first SSN-AUKUS in the late 2030s while Australia plans to have the ship in the early 2040s. According to a joint statement by the three countries in March, this submarine development agreement will enhance the ability to deter aggression and contribute to stability in the Indo- Pacific and globally.
Source link
Comment (0)