Britain’s New Nuclear Submarine Sails For Sea Trials

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

The sixth Astute-class submarine, nicknamed “Awesome Aggie,” will undergo a period of testing before entering active service.

Measuring 97 meters long and weighing 7,400 tonnes, HMS Agamemnon is powered by a Rolls-Royce Submarines nuclear reactor produced in Derby. The reactor means the submarine will not need to refuel during its service life.

The submarine is equipped for stealthy precision strikes, anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering. It will carry heavyweight Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk IV land-attack missiles capable of striking targets more than 1,000 miles away.

The Astute class is described as the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarine class operated by the Royal Navy.

The UK’s submarine industrial base is receiving £6 billion in government investment over the Spending Review period and supports thousands of jobs.