BAE Systems says building of four Dreadnought submarines is supporting almost 30,000 British jobs
The building of four Dreadnought submarines is supporting almost 30,000 British jobs, BAE Systems revealed yesterday.
The programme to create the Royal Navy’s biggest, most powerful and most technically advanced submarines has led to supply contracts worth £2.5billion across the country.
BAE Systems, which is working with Rolls-Royce and the Government’s Submarine Delivery Agency, estimates it will spend £7.5billion with 1,500 supply chain companies over the life of the £41billion project.
Ruling the waves: The programme to create the Royal Navy’s most powerful and most advanced submarines has led to supply contracts worth £2.5billion across the country
Four subs designed like the illustration above are set to enter service from the early 2030s.
Work on the first two is underway at the BAE shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
The submarines, whose name derives from the motto ‘fear God and dread nought’, carry nuclear missiles and are designed to remain at sea undetected for months.
Almost half of the 30,000 jobs are in the North West, and nearly 8,000 staff are directly employed by BAE.
Defence minister Ben Wallace said: ‘This sovereign showcase in science and engineering highlights the prowess of British industry.’