TSAMTO, April 22. BAE Systems has announced the launch of the Anson Estiute class submarine, which is under construction under a contract with the British Navy, at the Barrow-in-Furness facility.
The Anson is the fifth Estiute-class submarine to be built by BAE Systems for the British Navy. After the launch, the next stage of the program of its equipment and testing will begin. As planned, sea trials of the submarine will be conducted next year.
As reported by TSAMTO, acting as the main contractor of the program, BAE Systems should build 7 Estiute-class submarines for the British Navy. The lead submarine of the series, (S119) "Estiute", was laid down on 31 January 2001 and officially handed over to the British Navy in November 2010. The second submarine, (S120) "Embush", entered the Navy on March 1, 2013, the third, (S121)" Artful " (Artful), – on March 18, 2016. The transfer of the British Navy submarine (S122)" Audacious " (Audacious) took place on May 11, 2020.
The laying of the Anson keel took place in October 2011. The christening ceremony was held in a limited format on December 11, 2020.
The sixth (Agamemnon) and seventh (Agincourt) submarines of the series are also currently under construction at the Barrow-in-Furness facility. As planned, the last submarine of the "Estiute" class will be transferred to the British Navy in 2026.
The 97-meter, 7,400-ton Estiute-class submarines are the largest and most powerful multi-purpose submarines of the British Navy. They are designed both for actions as part of the fleet and in isolation from the main forces and can be used to perform tasks of fighting enemy ships and submarines, attacking ground targets, landing special forces groups and collecting intelligence information. The submarines will provide protection for the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, as well as the existing Vanguard and advanced Dreadnought submarines of the British Navy.