THE DREADNOUGHT FLEET

BAE Systems is the industrial lead in the Dreadnought Alliance alongside partners Ministry of Defence, Rolls-Royce and the Submarine Delivery Agency, to deliver the Dreadnought programme - a “A National Endeavour”, supplying a new generation of 4 nuclear-powered submarines to carry the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent.

Dreadnought boats will be the largest submarines ever built for the Royal Navy. Displacement is 17,200 tonnes, length 153.6 metres, crew around 130.Each boat will have:

• A new generation of nuclear reactor (PWR 3) providing power and propulsion
• Common missile compartments to those operated by USA’s Columbia class boats
• Sophisticated electronic systems, sensors and tactical weapons.

KEEP OUR FUTURE AFLOAT - STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN FOR 2023 AND 2024 7
Delivery Phase 3 (DP3) work on Dreadnought, Valiant and Warspite involves investment valued at £10Bn, starting with over £2.4Bn in contracts awarded to BAE Systems and Rolls Royce at the end of March 2022. Earlier a £1.3bn contract for (DP1) for steel cut on the first boat started in 2016. In 2018, a £900m contract for Delivery Phase 2 (DP2) ran to 2022.
The first of Class, HMS Dreadnought, passed its mid-point in construction in Summer 2022, including all missile tubes delivered. Second boat HMS Valiant is well underway. The third HMS Warspite, began construction in Autumn 2022. King George V1 will follow..

The 4 boats will begin to replace the current Vanguard class in the 2030s, ushering in a new era of at-sea deterrence, protecting and providing the ultimate guarantee of UK’s national security.
Dreadnought build supports almost 30,000 UK jobs at its peak. Around half of these jobs are in the North West of England making a significant contribution to the Government’s Levelling-Up and UK Shared Prosperity priorities.