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to enter service from 2005 onwards as the five remaining Swiftsure Class SSN Fleet nuclear submarines are progressively withdrawn from service.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.
