BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Babcock have been awarded nearly $5bn to develop the SSN-AUKUS multi-purpose nuclear submarines for the UK Royal Navy

In 2021, the UK, the US and Australia formed a military alliance called AUKUS. One of the joint products was the SSN-AUKUS project, which will create multi-purpose nuclear submarines.

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The UK Ministry of Defence signed contracts with three companies: BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Babcock Marine. The agreements totalled £4bn ($4.9bn). The programme will create thousands of highly skilled jobs in defence and related sectors.

The funding will provide submarine design and components. In addition, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Babcock Marine will undertake prototyping and procurement of key long lead time components. These are the materials that will be used in the construction of the first SSN-AUKUS submarines for the UK Royal Navy.

The new programme will allow the UK to retire the Astute class nuclear-powered submarines, which carry Tomahawk cruise missiles. The first SSN-AUKUS submarines will appear at the end of the next decade. Australia is also set to take on new submarines, but that won't happen until the early 2040s at the earliest.

Source: @DefenceHQ