BAE Systems Wins £5.9 bn Contract for New British Dreadnought Nuclear Submarines

BAE Systems has been awarded a £5.9 billion contract by the UK government to build four Dreadnought‑class nuclear‑powered submarines for the Royal Navy. The submarines will replace the Vanguard class and sustain the United Kingdom’s continuous maritime nuclear deterrent. Construction is underway at the Barrow‑in‑Furness shipyard, with the lead vessel Dreadnought expected to enter service in the early 2030s, followed by Valiant, Warspite and King George VI.

The programme forms part of an £8.4 billion defence budget approved by Parliament and is managed through the Defence Nuclear Enterprise. It supports more than 30,000 jobs across the country, including over 7,000 directly at BAE Systems. CEO Charles Woodburn and Defence Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the project’s importance for long‑term UK security and the revitalisation of the British shipbuilding industry.