Īlthough B2TC was intended to be a modest improvement over the Trafalgar class, it was not to be the case for Astute. The contract was signed on 14 March 1997, for what was now called the Astute programme, with a fixed maximum price, and any cost overruns being assumed by GEC-Marconi, the contractor. The MOD and GEC-Marconi negotiated on a new price for the contract, amounting to £2.4 billion for the first three Astute submarines, plus in service support. Although the MOD had awarded the contract to GEC-Marconi, partly due to its competitive cost, it was still considered too high for the MOD to sign off on. The bid put forward by GEC-Marconi included the innovative use of 3D CAD software and modular construction techniques. In December of the same year, the MOD announced that GEC-Marconi was the preferred bidder. The bid put forward by VSEL/Rolls-Royce was less attractive and considered "an expensive and dull design." In June 1995, VSEL was subject to a takeover by GEC-Marconi, and with it, the Barrow shipyard. GEC-Marconi and BMT had little experience with British submarine designs, whereas VSEL and Rolls-Royce were heavily involved in both British nuclear submarine design and construction.ĭuring the assessment phase of the bids put forward by both teams, the MOD favoured the GEC-Marconi/BMT design on both cost and capability grounds. The final invitation to tender involved a formal competition between GEC-Marconi/ BMT Limited and VSEL/ Rolls-Royce, with bids to be submitted in June 1995. A draft invitation to tender was announced in October 1993 and a final invitation to tender in July 1994. Astute programme įollowing two years of a studies phase on B2TC, the MOD decided to put the contract out to tender. While the philosophy behind B2TC was that of a modern and improved Trafalgar, early design concepts of B2TC were also heavily influenced by the then under construction Vanguard class, in particular its nuclear steam raising plant (NSRP). This became known as the Batch 2 Trafalgar class (B2TC), with approval for the studies phase given in June 1991. The Trafalgar class had been an evolved derivative of the preceding Swiftsure class, and in order to reduce cost and technical risk it was concluded that this new class of fleet submarine should "build upon" the Trafalgar design. Project SSN20 was promptly cancelled and a new set of design studies were started, this time, with "cost control" as a key objective. However, by 1990 the Berlin Wall had fallen and the Cold War came to an end. The estimated costs of project SSN20, although great, were not considered a "constraint". Similarly, the United States Navy, which was facing the same threats, went on to design and build the Seawolf class. To match this growing threat, the studies concluded that project SSN20 should be a revolutionary design, with significantly enhanced nuclear propulsion and firepower, and a more sophisticated "integrated sonar suite" and combat systems. These studies, called project SSN20, were conducted during the Cold War, when the Royal Navy maintained a strong emphasis on anti-submarine warfare to counter increasingly capable Soviet submarines. The Astute-class programme began in February 1986 when the Ministry of Defence (MOD) launched a number of studies intended to determine the capabilities and requirements for the replacement of its Swiftsure and Trafalgar-class fleet submarines. The Astute class is the replacement for the Trafalgar-class fleet submarines in Royal Navy service. Seven boats will be constructed: the first of class, Astute, was launched by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in 2007, commissioned in 2010, and declared fully operational in May 2014. The boats are being constructed by BAE Systems Submarines at Barrow-in-Furness. The Astute class is the latest class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines ( SSNs) in service with the Royal Navy. 6 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes with stowage for up to 38 weapons:.Unlimited in terms of propulsion, air and water, but otherwise typically 90 days, based on the amount of food carried and endurance of the crew BAE Systems Submarines, Barrow-in-FurnessĪukus-class submarine (First design contract awarded)
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