Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has cut first steel on Successor project at BAE Systems yard in Barrow-in-Furness.
Following an announcement earlier this week that the Government has committed £1.3Bn towards the delivery of Successor, the Defence Secretary took part part in the ceremonial ‘steel cutting’ with BAE managing director Tony Johns Barrow.
The event marked the official start of the production of four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines which will replace Royal Navy’s current Vanguard-class submarines. Operated by a crew of 130, with bunks for both make and female sailors, the new subs measure some 152.9m in length,and will displace 17,200 tonnes.
Speaking to workers at the Cumbrian dock, Mr Fallon said: “You are going to be building over the next 20 years the largest and most powerful submarines ever built in Britain.
“You will be the ones electrifying a new generation of engineers to continue building for Britain as well as manufacturing security, prosperity and jobs, you will also manufacture confidence in global Britain.
“Having seen this project reach this great ceremonial milestone today I know that Britain is in very safe hands here.”
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Tony Johns, Managing Director of BAE Systems Submarines, added: “This additional financial investment by the MOD is an expression of confidence in our ability to build these sophisticated vessels. We have been designing the new class of submarine for more than five years and thanks to the maturity of our design, we’re now in a position to start production on the date we set back in 2011. This is a terrific achievement and I pay tribute to all those who have made this possible.”
To facilitate the construction of the new submarines, investment has also been implemented at the Devonshire Dock Yard, with infrastructure,operating systems, facilities and skills improved to assist in the manufacturing phase of the Successor programme. The site will benefit from further investment throughout the programme, which transform the way submarines are built.
Image Credit: BAE Systems/Twitter
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