100 YEARS OF BARROW-BUILT RN SUBMARINES, 1901-2001
ASTUTE CLASS SUBMARINES, In build
INTO THE MILLENNIUM
ASTUTE CLASS - FLEET NUCLEAR SUBMARINES TYPE SSN - 2005 ONWARDS
The Astute Class will be the largest and most powerful class of attack submarines in the Royal Navy, set to enter service from 2005 onwards as the five remaining Swiftsure Class SSN Fleet nuclear submarines are progressively withdrawn from service.
Secured initially as the Batch 2 Trafalgar Class Prime Contract by GEC Marconi in December 1995, the £2 billion programme had three elements, namely the supply of three submarines with a further two (later increased to three) boat options, eight boat years of contractorised logistic support and the retrospective updating of Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class submarines' weapons systems.
NEW SUBMARINE ACQUISITION, PROCUREMENT, DESIGN, BUILD AND SUPPORT STRATEGIES
Prime Contractorship and Contractorised Logistic Support
The Prime Contract for the Astute Class was the first awarded by the Ministry of Defence for nuclear submarines. It resulted from the MoD Defence Procurement Agency's acknowledgement that industry was better placed to lead on the management of the significant integration risks inherent in the design and build of such a complex platform.
Integrated Project Team
VSEL became a GEC company during 1995. Renamed Marconi Marine (VSEL) Limited, the company subsequently secured the design and build contract for the first three submarines, to be named Astute, Ambush and Artful. The merger of Marconi Electronic Systems companies with British Aerospace in November 1999 saw the prime contract novated to the new company - BAE SYSTEMS - and is held today by their Programmes Organisation company BAE SYSTEMS Astute Class Project Limited
The Prime Contract Office (PCO) works closely with the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) Attack Submarine Project Team in an Integrated Project Team environment where stakeholders' interests are all represented.
Electronic Product Model
The PCO and DPA use a comprehensive computerised electronic product model accessible on-line to both parties to capture each mutually agreed development and update the design definition. Potential design problems are resolved in a virtual reality environment which enables both parties to 'walk' through the virtual submarine's compartments.
Smart Procurement
The Astute Prime Contract is being used as a benchmark for the MoD's Smart Procurement Initiative which promotes 'faster, cheaper and better' acquisition of major new defence platforms.
Concurrent Engineering
The acquisition process for a state of the art submarine takes many years during which time improved variants of equipments become available and new developments are announced. A modern submarine would never be completed if the design was constantly being changed or production delayed to accommodate new, unplanned developments.
To advance production in this environment without incurring rework and whilst ensuring that the end product remains as 'state of the art' as practicable, the company has adopted the concept of concurrent engineering whereby the design can still be progressing as hull steelwork is being cut and fabrication begun. The key to this approach is to identify, notify and manage design dependencies so that the impact of change is reduced until the point where further planned changes are negligible, whereupon the relevant production work can be authorised. The product model and production plans are used to generate an electronic product library and the structured delivery of build information such as work orders and associated tasking support documentation and quality data.
Evolving Specification
The Astute Class will be almost 40% larger than the Trafalgar Class and will incorporate a more powerful pressurised water reactor similar to the Vanguard Class SSBN submarines but featuring the new Core H which will power the submarine throughout its service life without requiring costly and time-consuming refuelling.
All signatures will be improved offering increased stealth in operation and attention is also being paid to improved survivability. The new class will feature the latest fully integrated submarine combat system. Sonar 2076 suites will match those planned for the final upgrade of Trafalgar Class boats and the Astute Class will have non hull-penetrating optronics masts. Six torpedo tubes will be installed to handle a weapon mix including Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes and Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles. A digital control and information system will be employed which minimises costly cabling. Finally, external actuation will be adopted for all control surfaces to reduce hull penetrations and simplify aft end construction. The Prime Contract includes the incentive of eight boat years of Contractor Logistic Support and every opportunity is being taken during design development to drive down projected through life costs. Improvements in management of the supply chain are also being actively pursued.
Build Programme
Steel cutting for these next generation attack submarines began in 1999 and the keel of the first of class Astute was laid in the Devonshire Dock Hall in January 2001. Launching of the 7200-tonne submarine by shiplift is scheduled for year 2004 followed by an intensive 18-month whole boat trials and acceptance programme. The shipyard is committed to making best use of its advanced build methodology, procurement, production and integration initiatives. An example of this is the application of ultrasound weld scanning techniques to replace the traditional X-ray method. And by maximising sub systems testing at the module stage during the build programme, BAE SYSTEMS Marine hopes to advance the in-service date to 2005.
Construction work on the second and third boats of the Class, Ambush and Artful will be started progressively in the Build Hall as units of the surface ship LPD02 are transported out of the hall to the superberth.
In the lead up to 2001, the MoD Defence Procurement Agency Attack Project Team worked closely with the Director Equipment Capability (Under Water Battlespace) and Prime Contractor BAE SYSTEMS Astute Class Limited. Subject to MoD approval, they will also be the Prime Contractor for the anticipated second buy of three further Astute Class boats which will maintain the Royal Navy's attack submarine force level at ten. The contract for the second buy is expected to be placed in late 2002 and BAE SYSTEMS Marine will be ready to accept the challenge thus maintaining and strengthening the partnership between its Barrow shipyard, the MoD and the Royal Navy in the 21st century.
MAIN PARTICULARS (subject to change)
Length overall 97 metres
Beam 10.7 metres
Draught 10 metres
Displacement,
submerged 7200 tonnes dived
Diving depth,
designed In excess of 300m
Speed,
submerged In excess of 30 knots dived
Armament Six 21in. (533mm) weapon tubes and a mix of
