Vanguard Class Replacement - the successor submarine
Government on 14 March 2007 followed up a December 2006 White Paper on the future of the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent by giving the go ahead for a new fleet of missile carrying submarines.
The Keep our Future Afloat Campaign welcomed the Government's decision which means a new class of submarines will be built, with 3 or 4 boats at a cost of £15-£20 billion at current prices.
The Vanguard class replacement submarines are known as the Successor submarine programme.
A Successor submarine carrying existing missiles will enable the UK's deterrent to remain effective in the long term to counter emerging threats to UK security.
It can take up to 15-17 years to design and develop new submarine based delivery systems. That is why replacement needs to be delivered from now.
The Secretary of State for Defence, on 29 Mar 2010 said
"We are continuing to target an in-service date for the first Trident successor submarine of 2024, as set out in the White Paper 'The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent' (Cm6994). The precise delivery schedule will be determined at Main Gate, currently scheduled for 2014.
The Ministry of Defence and industry are evaluating the lessons from the first boats in the Astute programme and will ensure that there is appropriate sequencing between the Astute and successor programmes to ensure that continuous at sea deterrence can be maintained. We do not expect delays in the Astute programme to affect the timetable for the delivery of the Trident successor submarines".(Hansard, Column 645W)
The 2006 White Paper on the future of the Strategic Deterrent stated that "the boats will be built in the UK but this is dependent on proposals from industry that provide the right capability at the right time and offer value for money as set out in the DIS."
Adoption of the Submarine Enterprise Collaborative Agreement will help ensure the submarines are UK built.
The KOFAC Chairman said:
"The Prime Minister’s announcement that Britain should maintain our nuclear deterrent by building a new class of submarines, involving four new submarines to carry the existing strategic deterrent and maintain the policy of continually at sea patrols is warmly welcomed." (5 December 2006)
"We wholeheartedly agree with the Government’s White Paper conclusions that this country needs to protect its security over the next 20-50 years, because traditional threats from other countries with large nuclear arsenals as well as new sources of threats are emerging. KOFAC supports the white Paper conclusion that retaining a submarine based system provides the most effective deterrent."(5 December 2006)
“... the project is vitally important for Barrow and for the whole of the UK submarine industrial base which employs over 20,000 people in well paid jobs”.(5 December 2006)
Britain's Vanguard class submarine fleet of 4 boats came into service in 1994,largely using 1980's technology, they had a 25-30 year design life.
The 4 existing boats are likely to be near the end of their design lives by 2020.
For Information on the existing Vanguard fleet, click here
Facts On Vanguard
4 Submarines named Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant and Vengence
