Editing Astute-class submarine (section)

==Development==

===Batch 2 ''Trafalgar'' class===
The ''Astute''-class programme began in February 1986 when the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|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.<ref>{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=Parliament of the United Kingdom |title=Nuclear-Powered Submarines |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1991-07-04/debates/5912ce42-44b7-47e8-9ca9-de3bd8450495/Nuclear-PoweredSubmarines?highlight=ssn20#contribution-ffcb9a53-a6eb-4c6c-aae9-e93138230430 |house=House of Commons |date=4 July 1991 |column=214 |speaker=Mr. Kenneth Carlisle |position= }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309054931/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1991-07-04/debates/5912ce42-44b7-47e8-9ca9-de3bd8450495/Nuclear-PoweredSubmarines?highlight=ssn20#contribution-ffcb9a53-a6eb-4c6c-aae9-e93138230430 |date=9 March 2021 }}</ref><ref name="RAND">{{cite book|title=Lessons from the United Kingdom's Astute Submarine Program|publisher=RAND National Defence Research Institute|location=United States|edition=Learning From Experience: Volume III|url=http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2011/RAND_MG1128.3.pdf|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-date=21 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021094622/http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2011/RAND_MG1128.3.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 Union|Soviet]] submarines. 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.<ref name="RAND"/> Similarly, the [[United States Navy]], which was facing the same threats, went on to design and build the {{sclass|Seawolf|submarine|4}}. The estimated costs of project SSN20, although great, were not considered a "constraint".<ref name="RAND"/>

However, by 1990 the [[Berlin Wall]] had fallen and the Cold War came to an end. Project SSN20 was promptly cancelled and a new set of design studies were started, this time, with "cost control" as a key objective.<ref name="RAND"/> 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. This became known as the Batch 2 ''Trafalgar'' class (B2TC), with approval for the studies phase given in June 1991.<ref name="RAND"/> 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 {{sclass|Vanguard|submarine|4}}, in particular its nuclear steam raising plant (NSRP).<ref name="RAND"/>

===''Astute'' programme===
Following two years of a studies phase on B2TC, the MOD issued a draft [[invitation to tender]] in October 1993 and a final invitation to tender in July 1994.<ref name="RAND"/> The final invitation to tender involved a formal competition between [[GEC-Marconi]]/[[BMT Limited]] and [[Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd.|VSEL]]/[[Rolls-Royce Marine Power Operations|Rolls-Royce]], with bids to be submitted in June 1995.<ref name="RAND"/> 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.

During 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.<ref name="RAND"/> The bid put forward by VSEL/Rolls-Royce was less attractive and considered "an expensive and dull design."<ref name="RAND"/> In June 1995, VSEL was subject to a takeover by GEC-Marconi, and with it, the Barrow shipyard. In December of the same year, the MOD announced that GEC-Marconi was the preferred bidder. The bid put forward by GEC-Marconi included the innovative use of [[3D modeling|3D CAD software]] and modular construction techniques. 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.<ref name="RAND"/> 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. 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.<ref name="RAND"/>

Although B2TC was intended to be a modest improvement over the ''Trafalgar'' class, it was not to be the case for ''Astute''. With the signing of the contract in March 1997, GEC-Marconi started work on developing a complete and comprehensive design for the ''Astute'' programme.<ref name="RAND"/> Initial realisation was that the size of the [[Rolls-Royce PWR|Rolls-Royce PWR2]] required a much larger boat (beam and length) and significantly improved acoustic quieting. A new understanding was reached between the MOD and GEC-Marconi that this would be an entirely new class, and far more complex than originally envisioned.<ref name="RAND"/>

===Construction, cost overruns and delays===
[[File:Astute1.JPG|thumb|left|The ''Astute'' class are built at the [[Devonshire Dock Hall]], [[Barrow-in-Furness]]]]
In November 1999, [[British Aerospace]] purchased GEC-Marconi and created [[BAE Systems]]. At the time of the takeover, it had been approximately 20 years since the ''Vanguard'' class was designed, and the last of the boats had already been launched.<ref name="RAND"/> The workforce at the Barrow shipyard had fallen from around 13,000 to 3,000. Key skills in design and engineering had been lost, predominantly through retirement or movement into other careers.<ref name="RAND"/> This created significant delays and challenges in getting the ''Astute'' programme from design phase and into construction phase. Further delays and cost increases were also caused by the 3D CAD software,<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060309/text/60309w16.htm |title=House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 9 Mar 2006 |website=Publications.parliament.uk |access-date=7 November 2011 |archive-date=23 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123203942/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060309/text/60309w16.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> despite originally being touted as an innovative cost saving measure, by greatly reducing man-hours.<ref name="RAND"/> However, one of the reasons for this was a lack of experienced designers able to use the software and its expanded tools.<ref name="RAND"/>
[[File:Astute2cropped.jpg|thumb|''Astute'' on the [[shiplift]] after her launch ceremony]]
Despite numerous difficulties, including incomplete design drawings, the first boat, ''Astute'', was laid down on 31 January 2001. As planned, modular construction methods were used, with the boat being built in several ring-like modules, each up to several metres in length.<ref>{{cite news|title=An astute strategy|url=https://www.theengineer.co.uk/issues/27-april-2001/an-astute-strategy/|access-date=27 July 2016|agency=The Engineer|publisher=theengineer.co.uk|date=3 May 2001|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816131446/https://www.theengineer.co.uk/issues/27-april-2001/an-astute-strategy/|url-status=live}}</ref> These were welded together using specially designed high-strength steel,<ref>{{cite web|title=Welding Astute-Class Submarines|url=https://app.aws.org/wj/2002/09/feature2/|website=aws.org|publisher=American Welding Society|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816142848/https://app.aws.org/wj/2002/09/feature2/|url-status=live}}</ref> and then fitted out. From boat 2 onward however, vertical outfitting has been used, whereby the ring-like sections are "stood up on their ends."<ref name="VO">{{cite news|title=Mr Astute|url=http://www.naval-technology.com/features/feature1224/|access-date=27 July 2016|agency=Naval Technology|publisher=naval-technology.com|date=31 August 2007|archive-date=5 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605062832/http://www.naval-technology.com/features/feature1224/|url-status=live}}</ref> This has better enabled the fitting of large and heavy equipment, and has also proved to be more efficient, with reportedly "thousands of man-hours saved".<ref name="VO"/> The class is the first nuclear submarine to be designed entirely using 3D computer software.<ref name="BAEAstute2016"/>

By 2002 both BAE and the MOD recognised they had underestimated the technical challenges and costs of the programme.<ref name="RAND"/> In August 2002 the programme was estimated to be over three years late and hundreds of millions of pounds over budget.<ref name="RAND"/> BAE Systems issued a profit warning on 11 December 2002 as a result of the cost overruns and delays.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark|last=Odell |title=BAE warning sends share price to seven-year low: News of 'additional issues' on two big defence contracts takes market by surprise|work=Financial Times |date=12 December 2002}}</ref> BAE Systems and the MOD subsequently renegotiated the contract, with an understanding that the MOD had to share some of the financial risks.<ref name="RAND"/> In December 2003 the contract modifications were signed, with the MOD agreeing to add another £430 million to the programme and BAE Systems assuming £250 million of the cost overruns.<ref name="NAO2008">{{cite web|title=Ministry of Defence: Major Projects Report 2008|url=https://www.nao.org.uk/report/ministry-of-defence-major-projects-report-2008/|website=nao.org|date=18 December 2008 |publisher=National Audit Office, 18 December 2008|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-date=20 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820040931/https://www.nao.org.uk/report/ministry-of-defence-major-projects-report-2008/|url-status=live}}</ref> The MOD also enlisted the advice and expertise of [[General Dynamics Electric Boat]] through a [[U.S. Navy]] contract.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=2840|title=U.S. Navy contracts|publisher=[[U.S. Department of Defense]]|date=3 September 2004|access-date=13 February 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080215190258/http://www.defenselink.mil/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=2840 |archive-date=15 February 2008}}</ref> Eventually, a General Dynamics Electric Boat employee became the Astute Project Director at Barrow.<ref name="RAND"/>

[[File:Audacious Under Construction MOD 45155779.jpg|thumb|''Audacious'' under construction]]
Input from General Dynamics helped resolve many of the software issues associated with 3D CAD;<ref name="RAND"/> General Dynamics was also responsible for the introduction of vertical outfitting and other construction techniques. Consequently, much rework was needed on ''Astute'' now that detailed designs were complete.<ref name="RAND"/> On 8 June 2007 ''Astute'' was launched and boats 2 and 3 (''Ambush'' and ''Artful'') were at various stages of construction. A month previously, procurement for boat 4 (''Audacious'') had been agreed.<ref name="RAND"/> Boats 5 and 6 (''Anson'' and ''Agamemnon'') were approved in March 2010.<ref name="RAND"/> In June 2012 the order was placed for the manufacture of the nuclear reactor for boat 7 (''Achilles''), as well as production of the first nuclear reactor for the {{sclass|Dreadnought|submarine|1}}.<ref>{{Cite news   | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18475108   | newspaper=[[BBC News Online]]   | title=£1bn contract for UK nuclear submarines to be announced   | date=17 June 2012   | access-date=20 June 2018   | archive-date=22 November 2018   | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122004221/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18475108   | url-status=live   }}</ref> A £1.4 billion order to construct ''Agamemnon'' was issued by the MOD to BAE Systems on 19 April 2017<ref>{{Cite web  |title=BAE Systems gets £1.4B to build Royal Navy's sixth Astute-class submarine  |date=19 April 2017  |website=NavalToday.com  |url=http://navaltoday.com/2017/04/19/bae-systems-gets-1-4b-to-build-royal-navys-sixth-astute-class-submarine/  |access-date=29 May 2017  |archive-date=24 April 2017  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424124237/http://navaltoday.com/2017/04/19/bae-systems-gets-1-4b-to-build-royal-navys-sixth-astute-class-submarine/  |url-status=live  }}</ref>

In November 2009, a House of Commons Defence Select Committee found that delays due to technical and programme issues brought the ''Astute'' class to a position of being 57 months late and 53 per cent (or £1.35 billion) over-budget, with a forecast cost of £3.9 billion for the first three boats.<ref name="DSC-HC99">{{Cite web|page=Ev 97|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmdfence/99/99.pdf|title=Defence Equipment 2010|publisher=House of Commons|author=Defence Select Committee|author-link=Defence Select Committee|date=23 February 2010|id=HC 99|access-date=9 March 2010|archive-date=23 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423150018/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmdfence/99/99.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The handover of boat 4, HMS ''Audacious'', was delayed from 2019 to 2021 due to "emergent technical issues".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/840100/20191016_-_Meg_Hillier_Astute_AOA.pdf |title=ASTUTE CLASS SUBMARINES BOAT 4 ACCOUNTING OFFICER ASSESSMENT |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=16 October 2019 |website=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=24 October 2019 |quote=The Operational handover for AUDACIOUS is now planned for January 2021. |archive-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024153826/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/840100/20191016_-_Meg_Hillier_Astute_AOA.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2020, James Heappey, parliamentary under secretary of state for defence, confirmed that the in-service date for the final SSN, HMS ''Achilles'', had slipped to 2026.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2020-01-30.10350.h&s=c|title=HMS Audacious|access-date=13 February 2020|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128125336/https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2020-01-30.10350.h&s=c|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2023, as part of the joint planning within the [[AUKUS]] defence group, it was indicated that, from 2027, one Astute-class submarine would forward operate on rotation from [[HMAS Stirling]] in [[Western Australia]].<ref name="navylookout.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.navylookout.com/australia-to-join-royal-navy-ssnr-submarine-programme/ |title=Australia to join Royal Navy SSN(R) submarine programme |date=13 March 2023 |website=Navy Lookout |access-date=13 March 2023 |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314082811/https://www.navylookout.com/australia-to-join-royal-navy-ssnr-submarine-programme/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Programme cost summary===
{|class=wikitable
|+ '''National Audit Office: Major Projects Report 2015'''<ref name="NAO2015">{{cite book|title=National Audit Office: Major Projects Report 2015|date=20 October 2015|publisher=National Audit Office|location=United Kingdom|page=42|url=https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Major-Projects-Report-2015-and-the-Equipment-Plan-2015-2025.pdf|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-date=29 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629094448/https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Major-Projects-Report-2015-and-the-Equipment-Plan-2015-2025.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! 
! Expected cost to completion at approval
! Current forecast cost to completion
! Change
|-
| Boats 1–3
| style="text-align:center;" | £2.233 billion
| style="text-align:center;" | £3.536 billion
| style="text-align:center;" | {{IncreaseNegative}}58% Increase
|-
| Boat 4
| style="text-align:center;" | £1.279 billion
| style="text-align:center;" | £1.492 billion
| style="text-align:center;" | {{IncreaseNegative}}16% Increase
|-
| Boat 5
| style="text-align:center;" | £1.464 billion
| style="text-align:center;" | £1.420 billion
| style="text-align:center;" | {{DecreasePositive}}3% Decrease
|-
| Boat 6
| style="text-align:center;" | £1.579 billion
| style="text-align:center;" | £1.533 billion
| style="text-align:center;" | {{DecreasePositive}}3% Decrease
|-
| Boat 7
| style="text-align:center;" | £1.642 billion
| style="text-align:center;" | £1.640 billion
| style="text-align:center;" | {{Steady}}
|}

===Replacement===
{{main|Aukus-class submarine}}
In September 2021, the Ministry of Defence announced a £170 million investment into design work for the successor to the ''Astute''-class. This funding included two £85 million contracts, which were awarded to BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce.<ref name="successor">{{cite news |last1=Adams |first1=Harry |title=Navy's Next-Generation Submarines Are Closer Than Ever |url=https://www.forces.net/news/navys-next-generation-submarines-are-closer-ever |access-date=17 September 2021 |work=[[BFBS]] |date=17 September 2021 |archive-date=17 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917144151/https://www.forces.net/news/navys-next-generation-submarines-are-closer-ever |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2023, it was announced that the submarine would be a joint project between the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States and would start to replace the ''Astute''-class in the Royal Navy in the late 2030s.<ref name="navylookout.com"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Allison |first1=George |title=UK to develop new class of nuclear submarine |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-to-develop-new-class-of-nuclear-submarine/ |access-date=17 September 2021 |work=[[UK Defence Journal]] |date=23 March 2021 |archive-date=17 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917144151/https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-to-develop-new-class-of-nuclear-submarine/ |url-status=live }}</ref>