Defence Equipment and Support

Future Submarines Team

The Future Submarines Team is the Ministry of Defence (MOD) team responsible for delivery of the successor deterrent submarine in accordance with the 2006 White Paper.

In March 2007 the House of Commons voted to support the Government's decisions, as set out in the December 2006 White Paper: ‘The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent’ (Cm 6994), to take the steps necessary to maintain the UK’s minimum strategic nuclear deterrent beyond the life of the existing system, by procuring a new class of submarines to replace the Vanguard-class and to participate in a programme to extend the life of the Trident II D5 missile.

This is a collaborative MOD/Industry team and includes three main suppliers; BAE Systems Submarine Solutions, Rolls-Royce and Babcock. The MOD is also working with the United States Government to design a common missile compartment for use in both future UK and US submarines.

The Future Submarines Team is examining a number of options for the new submarine. In line with usual MOD processes approval will be sought to progress one of these options through Initial Gate (The first formal MOD approval point in the Department’s Acquisition Cycle) to the detailed design stage.

A progress report reviewing the first phase of the programme will be submitted to Parliament following that approval.





Page updated 15 March 2011


Future Submarines Facts

Team Leader : Andy Mackinder

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