Government awards £350m contracts for new Trident submarines at Faslane

Trident missile: The £350m contracts for the new submarines were awarded on Tuesday.Crown Copyright

The UK Government has awarded contracts worth £350m for new Trident submarines that will be based in Scotland.

On Tuesday BAE Systems, Babcock and Rolls Royce were awarded the deal, which will see around 1000 jobs secured in Cumbria.

The first Successor submarine is due to delivered in 2028, replacing the Vanguard Class vessels which currently carry Trident. They will also be based as HMNB Clyde at Faslane.

A decision on the final design and build will not be made until 2016, but the Ministry of Defence said detailed work has to take place now.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "This Government is committed to maintaining a continuous submarine-based nuclear deterrent. The contracts announced today with BAE Systems, Babcock and Rolls-Royce symbolise an important step towards renewing our nation's nuclear deterrent into the 2060s.

"We have a world-class submarine-building industry in this country and this programme will help to sustain or create more than 1900 jobs across the UK. By making the core equipment programme fully funded and affordable, we are able to confirm additional equipment projects which help safeguard our national security."

Kate Hudson, general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, criticised the government announcement on Trident.

She said: "What are the public to think? We are being told that there isn't enough money for public services while the government throws £350 million from taxpayers at designs for nuclear-armed submarines. With a majority of public opinion in favour of scrapping Trident, being forced to pay for it while local libraries and hospitals are axed: that's a tough pill to swallow."

BAE Systems managing director John Hudson welcomed the announcement and said it would also give the company the opportunity to increase its workforce by 280 this year.

Related articles

People who read this story also read