KOFAC believes that the UK's policy of operating a "continuously at sea" strategic deterrent is an essential component of the UK National Security Strategy.

There should be no delay to the procurement of its Successor submarine fleet of four boats. 

KOFAC welcomed Parliament's March 2007 decision to commit to replacing the fleet of existing Vanguard class submarines by 2024 with a fleet of four "Successor submarines". The December 2006 White Paper "The Future of the UK's Nuclear Deterrent" (Cmnd 6994) stated that 3 or 4 replacement submarines would be needed.

 In recent months some observers have advocated either cancellation, or delaying the build of the Successor submarine fleet, either becuase it is no longer needed or because it is no longer affordable.

The strategic deterrent is crucial for our future. 

On 20 May 2009 (Hansard Col.1417W) the Secretary of State of for Defence stated "Over the next 20-50 years we can foresee nuclear risks in three areas:- re-emergence of a major nuclear threat; emerging nuclear states and state sponsored terrorism. China is building new missile carrying submarines as is Russia, which is increasing its Atlantic patrols."

On 13 July 2009 (Hansard Col.19W) the Government stated "The estimated procurement cost (was) £15-20bn at 2006-7 prices"....."This cost is currently around 5-6% of the annual defence budget".This cost is affordable and it builds onexperience being gained on Astute build.

Parliament was told on 12 January 2009 (Hansard Col.111W) that "Construction of the Successor will occur in parallel with construction of later Astute class submarines. The lessons learnt from the Astute programme are being applied to the design and build phase of the Successor programme."

Currently approaching 300 design engineers are working in Barrow on the conceptual designs for Successor submarines.

Parliament was informed on 28 April 2009 that i successor submarine work would cost £400m in 2009-10 and £400m in 2010-11. 

Government expect to make important investment decisions soon about some of the key elements of the successor programme - issues such as

• The need for a new Successor submarine reactor.
• The size and shape of the Successor submarines.
• The timing of their detailed design and build.

See below a summary of the 2006 White Paper for the Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent

“Significant nuclear arsenals remain, some of which are being modernised and expanded"

"The number of states possessing nuclear weapons has continued to grow,"

It is not possible accurately to predict the global security environment over the next 20 to 50 years. On our current analysis, we cannot rule out the risk either that a major direct nuclear threat to the UK’s vital

interests will re-emerge or that new states will emerge that possess a more limited nuclear capability, but one that could pose a grave threat to our vital interests. We can only deter such threats in future through the continued possession of nuclear weapons.

retaining a submarine based system provides the most effective  deterrent; and that no credible alternative is cheaper

We have therefore decided to maintain our nuclear deterrent by building a new class of submarines. Currently we require a fleet of four submarines to maintain one continuously on patrol and retaining

this posture is essential to assure the invulnerability of the deterrent. We will investigate fully whether there is scope to make sufficiently radical changes to the design of the new submarines, and their operating, manning, training and support arrangements, to enable us to maintain these continuous deterrent patrols with a fleet of only three submarines

A final decision on whether we require three or four submarines will be taken when we know more about their detailed design.

Our current estimate is that the procurement costs of the new submarines and associated equipment and infrastructure will be in the region of £15-20 billion (at 2006/07 prices)

The investment required to maintain our deterrent will not come at the expense of the conventional capabilities our armed forces need

We are committed to retaining the minimum nuclear deterrent capability necessary to provide effective deterrence, whilst setting an example where possible by reducing our nuclear capabilities”