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[POLITICS] · United Kingdom · 25 sources

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UK PM Andy Burnham announces £8.4bn investment in Dreadnought nuclear submarine programme

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a new £8.4 billion (US$11.2 billion) investment for the next phase of the United Kingdom’s Dreadnought‑class nuclear submarine programme. The funding will allow the first vessel, HMS Dreadnought, to complete sea‑trials and enter Royal Navy service in the early 2030s, with HMS Valiant moving to sea‑trial status and the remaining two boats under construction. BAE Systems has been awarded a £5.9 billion contract to build the four submarines, while the balance of the package will support the wider supply chain. Rolls‑Royce will provide the nuclear propulsion system, manufactured in Derby. The programme replaces the ageing Vanguard‑class fleet and forms part of a £63 billion defence nuclear enterprise planned over the next four years. The government says the investment will sustain around 47 000 jobs and create roughly 22 000 apprenticeships by 2035, linking national security to regional economic revitalisation, especially in Barrow‑in‑Furness. Burnham stressed that “security is not only about what we build, it is about who builds it and who benefits from it”.

Entities

Andy Burnham · BAE Systems · Barrow‑in‑Furness · Dreadnought‑class submarine programme · HMS Dreadnought · HMS Dreadnought · HMS Valiant · HMS Valiant · Rolls‑Royce

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