The award is part of an £8.4 billion investment in the next Dreadnought build phase, backing UK jobs and the wider nuclear deterrent supply chain.
BAE Systems’ £5.9 billion contract sits within a broader £8.4 billion UK investment to begin the fourth major production phase of the Dreadnought nuclear deterrent submarine programme, with further funding earmarked for Rolls-Royce Submarines in Derby and the wider supply chain. The funding will advance all four submarines in the class, with HMS Dreadnought expected to complete sea trials and enter Royal Navy service in the early 2030s, HMS Valiant moving toward sea trials, and boats three and four reaching further construction milestones. The government said the Defence Nuclear Enterprise currently supports about 47,000 jobs across the country and more than 6,000 UK-based companies, with workforce demand forecast to rise to about 65,000 by 2030. It also said productivity in Barrow has risen 40% over the past three years and around 1,800 additional roles have been created there under this government, while the North of England remains a core hub for the programme, supporting around 15,000 jobs, more than 1,000 supply chain companies and £3.4 billion of spending in the last financial year.