Editing Astute-class submarine (section)

===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>