State-of-the-art sub sets off on first mission
● Audacious sails for the Clyde ● £1.6bn vessel sets new standards
A £1.6 billion nuclear-powered submarine dubbed the “most capable ever built” for the Royal Navy has been pictured setting sail for the first time this week.
HMS Audacious is one of seven Astute-class attack subs being built by BAE Systems.
The ultra-advanced warship, said to “set a new standard in weapons load and stealth”, is armed with Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Around 39,000 state-of-theart anti-acoustic tiles make the colossal 320ft, 7,400 tonne submarine move through the water without making any more noise than a baby dolphin.
On board nuclear reactors with a 25-year life create air and water, meaning the warship can circumnavigate the globe without needing to resurface.
The sonar system on Astuteclass subs enable them to detect ships from 3,000 nautical miles away, which is the distance between the English Channel and New York. Images taken on Monday show
HMS Audacious, the fourth completed Astute-class attack sub, leaving Barrow-in-furness in Cumbria where it was built by BAE.
The vessel’s inaugural voyage was a short journey to Her
Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, which is the home of the UK’S submarine service.
Cliff Robson, managing director of BAE Systems Submarines, said: “This is an incredibly difficult time for employees, their families and the community, but as is often the case in times of great adversity, it has been truly humbling to see everyone come together to support the government’s critical defence programmes and help deliver HMS Audacious.”
Ian Booth, chief executive of the Submarine Delivery Agency, said: “The departure of HMS Audacious from Barrow is a key milestone in the Astute-class programme.
“The delivery of our incredibly complex submarine programmes depends on the extremely skilled submarine workforce and close collaboration with our industrial partners across the supply chain to deliver a first-class product for the Royal Navy.
“I am extremely grateful to everyone involved in the significant efforts to meet this milestone and the key roles they have played in the shadow of these unprecedented circumstances to get HMS Audacious to sea.”
The boat’s departure comes days after the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Sir Stephen Lovegrove, thanked the defence industry for its efforts to continue to deliver critical and nationally important defence operations and programmes during unprecedented times.