Britain’s New Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine Sails Out For Sea Trials

Barrow-in-Furness, England – Britain’s newest nuclear-powered attack submarine has sailed from the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, beginning sea trials in a major step toward joining the Royal Navy fleet.

The submarine is the sixth new Astute-class attack submarine for the Royal Navy and has been nicknamed “Awesome Aggie.” The sea trials will put its systems and capabilities through testing ahead of active service.

At 97 metres long and weighing 7,400 tonnes, the Astute class is the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarine class operated by the Royal Navy.

Powered by a Rolls-Royce nuclear reactor built in Derby, the submarine will not need to refuel during its service life. Its capabilities include stealthy precision strike, anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering.

The submarine will be armed with heavyweight Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk IV land-attack missiles capable of striking targets more than 1,000 miles away.

The UK submarine industrial base is benefiting from £6 billion of government investment over the Spending Review period and supports thousands of jobs.