The
main construction phase of the Royal Navy's fifth Astute Class submarine,
Anson, officially began today with a traditional keel-laying ceremony
attended by Minister for International Security Strategy Gerald Howarth.
The ceremony took place at the BAE Systems Submarine Solutions shipyard
in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and is a significant step towards the
delivery of the latest nuclear-powered attack submarine to the Royal
Navy. |
The keel is a large beam around
which the hull is built and is the first part of the 7,400-tonne vessel
to be constructed.
Mr Howarth said:
"The keel-laying for the fifth of seven immensely powerful Astute
Class boats marks another milestone in our programme to equip the Royal
Navy with the most advanced nuclear submarines. It demonstrates this government's
ongoing commitment to investing in the equipment that will form the basis
of the Future Force 2020.
"This exciting project is helping to maintain the skills required
to build such boats in the UK and sustaining thousands of jobs."
The MOD is committed to delivering a planned class of seven submarines,
with Astute, Ambush, Artful, Audacious, and now Anson, under construction
following the First of Class, HMS Astute.
The Astute Class are the most potent and sophisticated attack submarines
ever ordered for the Royal Navy. They have improved capability for worldwide
operations, much greater firepower, better communications and crew accommodation
than in-service submarines.
Bernard Gray, the MOD's Chief of Defence Materiel, said:
"This latest progress on the Astute programme is fantastic news not
only for the MOD and the Royal Navy but also the submarine-building industry
in this country.
"The close collaboration between the MOD and BAE Systems Submarine
Solutions continues to achieve great results and deliver to the Royal
Navy the most modern and effective equipment available."
The keel-laying ceremony took place at the Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow
before hundreds of BAE Systems employees and guests, including pupils
from local schools.
The BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow remains the UK's centre of excellence
for submarine design and building. Around 5,000 people are employed at
the yard with as many people again employed throughout the supply chain. |
