UK government delays decision on new nuclear submarine orders until 2028

The UK government has announced it will delay the decision on the exact number of new nuclear-powered submarines to be ordered until 2028. While the Labour government previously indicated an intention to commission up to 12 SSN-A submarines to replace the Astute-class, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting stated that a final decision on hull numbers will wait until the current design phase concludes in 2028.

Streeting noted that the program is currently midway through its design phase and maintained that the delay in committing to a specific number would not impact the service entry timeline. He indicated that the government expects to have the capacity to manufacture one submarine every 18 months starting from the mid-2030s.

The next-generation vessels are based on a British design with technological contributions from the United States via the AUKUS agreement. These submarines are expected to feature a Rolls-Royce PWR3-derived reactor, enhanced stealth capabilities, and vertical launch missile systems.

Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge criticized the postponement, describing the situation as ‘a shambles’ and questioning the government's ability to fund the planned expansion despite rising global threats.