The newest Astute-class multi-purpose nuclear submarine Agamemnon, built for the Royal Navy of Great Britain, has successfully submerged at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow, Cumbria, before sailing to the Clyde base.
According to Naval News, the crew of the submarine reached an important milestone during a three-day testing period at the shipyard, designed to prove the stability and safety of the submarine.
Multipurpose submarine "Agamemnon", Great Britain
BAE Systems
In late September, King Charles III officially commissioned the Agamemnon submarine into the British navy.
"Diving is the culmination of months of hard work. I would like to thank all the project participants for their dedication and professionalism. We are incredibly proud of the contribution we are making to the country's security and Barrow's long and distinguished history as a hub for British submarine design and construction," said Pete Tamelty, Astute Program Director at BAE Systems.
"This is a key stage in the commissioning of Agamemnon. This dive allows us to verify the waterproofness of the hull, test the sensors and check the performance of some systems before going to sea. This key stage requires careful planning and preparation, and all participants can be proud of their role," added Captain David "Bing" Crosby, commander of the submarine.
Agamemnon is the sixth Astute–class submarine built for the Royal Navy of Great Britain. It was laid down in July 2013 and launched in October 2024.
The Astute-class lead submarine was laid down back in January 2001. A year later, the general contractor, BAE Systems, admitted that it had underestimated the technical complexity and cost of the program. As a result, by the time the submarine was commissioned in August 2010, the total backlog of the program from the original plans was already 57 months, and the budget was exceeded by 53% (1.35 billion pounds) at the estimated cost of the first three submarines of 3.9 billion pounds.
All subsequent submarines of this class were belatedly surrendered.: Ambush – in March 2013, Artful – in March 2016, Odeyshes – in April 2020, Anson – in August 2022.
The seventh and final submarine of the series, Achilles (formerly Agincourt), is expected to be commissioned at the end of 2026.
The displacement of the Astute class submarines is 7,400 tons, and the hull length is 97 meters. They can reach speeds of up to 29 knots underwater. The working diving depth is 300 meters. It is armed with six 533–mm torpedo tubes, as well as Tomahawk cruise missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
Compared to the British submarines of previous generations, Astute-class submarines have less visibility, and their capabilities for conducting operations in the shallow coastal zone have been improved.
Along with the Atiut-class submarines, BAE Systems is also building four Dreadnought-class strategic submarines in partnership with Defense Nuclear Enterprise. These submarines, which are scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s, will replace the Vanguard-class submarines.
Since 2023, the number of BAE Systems employees has increased from 10,700 to 15,000. This figure is expected to reach 17,000 people in the coming years.
