On March 20, 2025, the official laying ceremony of the Dreadnought, the lead British nuclear missile submarine of the new type, took place at the BAE Systems Submarines enterprise of BAE Systems Corporation in Barrow-in-Furness. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended the ceremony. The actual construction of the Dreadnought lead boat began in Barrow-in-Furness on October 6, 2016.
The official laying ceremony of the Dreadnought, the lead British nuclear missile submarine of the new type, at the BAE Systems Submarines enterprise of BAE Systems Corporation in Barrow-in-Furness, 03/20/2025 (c) the British Navy
The construction program for the British Navy of four new-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBMS) to replace the four Vanguard-class submarines in service was launched in 2008 and was originally called Successor. The construction of four new-type SSBNs was officially approved in 2016. To date, BAE Systems Submarines is building the first three Dreadnought, Valiant and Warspite submarines, and the construction of the fourth King George VI is planned. Boats of this type are built from 16 hull sections, pre-assembled into three "megablocks". The first "megablock" of the Dreadnought hull began assembly at the BAE Systems Submarines workshop in Barrow-in-Furness in the fall of 2023. The commissioning of the British Dreadnought submarine fleet is now expected in 2030-2032.
Dreadnought-class boats, according to official data, should have a total underwater displacement of 17,200 tons, a length of 153.6 m and be equipped with a nuclear power plant with a new Rolls-Royce PWR3 turboelectric reactor and a water cannon as propulsion. The main armament should include 12 missile silos to accommodate American Trident II D5 ballistic missiles.
The official laying ceremony of the Dreadnought, the lead British nuclear missile submarine of the new type, at the BAE Systems Submarines enterprise of BAE Systems Corporation in Barrow-in-Furness, 03/20/2025 (c) the British Navy
