Uk Submarine Delivery Agency

£9 Billion Rolls-Royce Contract to Support Royal Navy Nuclear Submarines, Creating 5,000 Jobs

The UK Ministry of Defence and Submarine Delivery Agency announced a landmark £9 billion contract with Rolls-Royce Submarines Ltd to support the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine fleet. The eight-year 'Unity' contract will create 1,000 new UK jobs and safeguard 4,000 existing roles, totalling 5,000 long-term jobs. The agreement is expected to generate savings of more than £400 million for taxpayers through streamlined contracting and improved efficiency.

King Charles Commissions HMS Agamemnon and Cuts Steel on Fourth Dreadnought Submarine

His Majesty King Charles III commissioned HMS Agamemnon, the Royal Navy's newest Astute Class attack submarine, at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness on 22 September 2025. Simultaneously, Defence Secretary John Healey presided over the steel-cutting ceremony for HMS King George VI, the fourth and final Dreadnought Class nuclear deterrent submarine. The Port of Barrow received Royal status in recognition of its role as the UK's nuclear submarine manufacturing centre. The defence nuclear sector now supports more than 13,500 jobs in Barrow, representing a 7% increase since July 2024.

Sixth Astute Class Submarine Completes First Dive

HMS Agamemnon, the sixth Astute Class submarine, successfully completed its first underwater trim dive at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness. The basin dive tested onboard systems including ballast tanks, while the trim and inclining experiment confirmed the submarine's center of gravity using 16 tonnes of lead weights. The trials were conducted by BAE Systems with monitoring by SDA and Ministry of Defence naval architects and overseers.

XV Excalibur UK's First Autonomous Submarine Transferred to Royal Navy

The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) and Ministry of Defence announced the official handover of XV Excalibur to the Royal Navy on 11 December 2025. XV Excalibur is a 12-metre, 19-tonne Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV), the largest uncrewed underwater vessel ever trialled by the Royal Navy, developed under Project Cetus in partnership with MSubs Ltd. The vessel has completed acceptance trials and will now undergo a two-year sea trials programme to assess autonomy capabilities and military payloads.

HMS Anson Arrives in Australia Marking AUKUS Partnership First

Royal Navy submarine HMS ANSON arrived in Western Australia on 23 February 2026, marking the first time Australian personnel will work alongside UK engineers to conduct maintenance on a UK Astute-class submarine. The visit supports the AUKUS trilateral security partnership between Australia, the UK, and the United States, which aims to build new attack submarines and develop advanced military technology. The UK has invested £6 billion since summer 2024 into critical infrastructure at Barrow and Derby to support AUKUS submarine construction.