Astute attack submarine

ONCE THE DECISION had been made that the Royal Navy should bear the nuclear weapons of the UK, the submarine took on an important role. While the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy were tasked with nuclear capability, it now rested solely with the senior service. The presence of submarines has never been less than significant during their 100-year history with the Royal Navy. During World War II the submarine service came into its own and since that time boats have become increasingly larger and faster and now the latest name in the long line of famous classes is Astute. Three have been ordered with a possible three more to follow. Laid down by Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness on 31 January 2001 the first S.119, HMS Astute, is now being constructed by BAE Systems that took over the contract. The second Astute Class submarine will be S.120 HMS Ambush and she will be followed by S.121 HMS Artful. It was expected that the first of the type would enter service in mid-2005 but this date has slipped to late 2006.

BAE Systems has stated that the main reason for the delay has been lateness in completion of the design. This is an extremely complex process involving the integration of a staggering number of engineering disciplines and technical requirements, including selection of and contracting with a wide range of equipment suppliers. While the company accepts that this adds to the delay, for such a major engineering programme with safety-critical issues and challenging cost targets for build and in-service operations, it is always better to sort out these issue at the design stage because failure to do so could cause even greater delay in the build phase.

There may be a small delay with Ambush and Artful also, but everyone involved is working hard to minimise any impact on these boats, and they are still predicted to enter service in 2007 and 2009 respectively. Attack submarines originate from early studies of nuclear-powered vessels in the UK during 1946, long before other nations had considered such a propulsion system. Research and development in the war-ravaged United Kingdom was soon overtaken by the mighty United States and it was not until 1960 that the first British nuclear submarine was launched. HMS Dreadnought was a fully operational attack submarine and served for 20 years from 1963 before being decommissioned in 1983 and placed in store.

The success of Dreadnought led to other attack submarines in the Valiant, Swiftsure and Trafalgar class vessels. Currently five Swiftsure and seven Trafalgar class submarines are in service. In the former category are HMS Splendid, to be retired in 2003, HMS Sovereign, to go in 2005, HMS Spartan in 2006, HMS Superb in 2007 and HMS Sceptre in 2008. Trafalgar class submarines successfully replaced Valiant class vessels as they came on stream from 1983 to 1991. Built by Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness, Trafalgar essentially was a much-improved Swiftsure design, with better underwater capability and endurance. They are also quieter, an advantage achieved by covering both the pressure hull and all the outer surfaces with conformal anechoic noiseReduction tiles. Power is supplied by a Rolls-Royce PWR.1 pressurised-water nuclear reactor, two GEC steam turbines, two Paxman diesel alternators, one shaft and one pump-jet propulsor. Naturally, as the requirement for submarine operations has changed in recent years so the Royal Navy has considered the future of its fleet.

Following extensive studies the replacement of the Swiftsure class with a totally new design was deemed to be necessary. However, by 1990 it had become clear that unit costs for the proposed SSN-20 W Class would be in the order of Ł400m. When this was added to R&D costs and proposed reductions in defence spending were taken into account, the project was cancelled in 1991. Meanwhile, the study into the Batch 2 Trafalgar class submarines continued and it became apparent that further development of the Trafalgar class was the way forward. To differentiate between the Trafalgar class, now termed Batch 1 Trafalgar class, and the new variant, the name Astute class was chosen.

Astute is the biggest and most powerful attack submarine to be built for the Royal Navy and, under the Smart Acquisition Programme, is being built roughly one-fifth more quickly than earlier boats. It will have lower running costs and a smaller ship's company of 108 plus 12 officers. Although Astute will be 30 per cent larger than the Trafalgar class, the larger hull means it will be easier and cheaper to build and maintain. From day one the submarine will be capable of operating Tomahawk III cruise missiles as well as more conventional weapons. Astute also will carry SSM sub-Harpoon fired from tubes and Marconi Spearfish torpedoes or mines. She will be fitted with six weapons tubes and will have increased firepower compared with the present attack-class submarines.

FOSM Rear Admiral Stevens commented, "The services of SSN (Ship Submersible Nuclear) community has made a decisive break away from its cold-war emphasis on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) to embrace the Navy's new operational concept of Maritime Contributions to Joint Operations. The challenge now is to realise the full potential of the SSN across its wider range of taskings - operations in direct support of surface forces are becoming a far more important part of the submarine services operations."

"The introduction of new secure communications links will provide the improved connectability essential for operating in conjunction with other task force units. Advances in technological areas of digitisation, miniaturisation and processing of information gathered, will enable the submarine (Astute) to become an increasingly valuable asset in covert intelligence gathering operations."

HMS Astute is 97m long and displaces 7,200 tonnes, powered by a Rolls-Royce PWR-2 nuclear reactor, the vessel has an endurance of eight to nine years and a maximum submerged speed of 32kts. Conventional power will be supplied by two GEC turbines. To enhance the capability of the new submarine, navigational radar will be the Kelvin Hughes Type 1007. The combat data system will be the BAE SEMA SMCS and weapons control the Dowty Tactical Control System SAFS 3 FCS. Marconi Ferranti Type 2076 integrated suite supplies the sonar. Countermeasures will include two SSE Mk 10 launchers for Type 2066 and 2071 decoys and ECM Racal UAP 3 Passive Intercept.

The Astute class also will have fully reelable towed arrays rather than the clip-on type now in use. Other equipment is to be finalised and upgrades will be announced during the building programme. China, Russia, France and the US have SSN programmes, some quite advanced. However, because of a lack of funds many Russian programmes have been curtailed. Five of their improved Akula-Class SSNs were laid down but only three were completed and two partially completed vessels were leased to the Indian Navy during 2002. One of China's Han Class SSNs made headlines in 1994 when it approached the carrier USS Kitty Hawk in the Yellow Sea in October 1994. China is now busy working with a Russian design team on a new, improved vessel to replace the ageing Han Class.

Probably the most famous SSN is USS Nautilus. Commissioned in 1954 and retired in 1980 it showed the way. The current US SSN programme is well advanced with the Seawolf class, the latest in a long line. Twenty-nine boats were considered, 12 were ordered and now the figure is just three - two of which have been launched and the third to be completed in 2004. Unlike Astute the Seawolf carries around 50 weapons including Tomahawk, Harpoon and Mk 48 ADCAP torpedoes. Development of the Seawolf class has led to the Virginia class, a new programme now underway with 30 boats on order.

Following development problems, the first French SSN did not join the fleet until 1983. However, the Rubis and Amethyste classes have operated from their Toulon base for many years and have been subjected to major update rebuilding programmes. France has announced a new SSN programme, the new Baracuda class will enter service from 2010, but details are sketchy and apart from the fact that this new class will be larger than Rubis/Amethyste and smaller than Astute, little is known.

We have noted that India has on lease two Russian-built SSNs and are known to be developing a vessel of their own but details are not available and neither can reports that Brazil has, or will have, an attack-submarine programme in place. What is clear is that the requirement for such a vessel is more apparent than ever before and with programmes from the US, France and the UK underway, the SSN has an assured place - but at what cost? It is widely known that all the programmes have slipped mainly because of development parameters and available funds. None of the countries mentioned has unlimited resources, even the United States is feeling the need for economies as it attempts to police the world and to deal with a slipping economy at home.

For more information visit BAe Systems or Royal Navy websites.

		Astute attack Britain's nuclear deterrent is to remain with the Royal Navy whose latest attack submarine will enter service late in 2006.

		ONCE THE DECISION had been made that the Royal Navy should bear the nuclear weapons of the UK, the submarine took on an important role. While the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy were tasked with nuclear capability, it now rested solely with the senior service. The presence of submarines has never been less than significant during their 100-year history with the Royal Navy. During World War II the submarine service came into its own and since that time boats have become increasingly larger and faster and now the latest name in the long line of famous classes is Astute. Three have been ordered with a possible three more to follow. Laid down by Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness on 31 January 2001 the first S.119, HMS Astute, is now being constructed by BAE Systems that took over the contract. The second Astute Class submarine will be S.120 HMS Ambush and she will be followed by S.121 HMS Artful. It was expected that the first of the type would enter service in mid-2005 but this date has slipped to late 2006. BAE Systems has stated that the main reason for the delay has been lateness in completion of the design. This is an extremely complex process involving the integration of a staggering number of engineering disciplines and technical requirements, including selection of and contracting with a wide range of equipment suppliers. While the company accepts that this adds to the delay, for such a major engineering programme with safety-critical issues and challenging cost targets for build and in-service operations, it is always better to sort out these issue at the design stage because failure to do so could cause even greater delay in the build phase. There may be a small delay with Ambush and Artful also, but everyone involved is working hard to minimise any impact on these boats, and they are still predicted to enter service in 2007 and 2009 respectively. Attack submarines originate from early studies of nuclear-powered vessels in the UK during 1946, long before other nations had considered such a propulsion system. Research and development in the war-ravaged United Kingdom was soon overtaken by the mighty United States and it was not until 1960 that the first British nuclear submarine was launched. HMS Dreadnought was a fully operational attack submarine and served for 20 years from 1963 before being decommissioned in 1983 and placed in store. The success of Dreadnought led to other attack submarines in the Valiant, Swiftsure and Trafalgar class vessels. Currently five Swiftsure and seven Trafalgar class submarines are in service. In the former category are HMS Splendid, to be retired in 2003, HMS Sovereign, to go in 2005, HMS Spartan in 2006, HMS Superb in 2007 and HMS Sceptre in 2008. Trafalgar class submarines successfully replaced Valiant class vessels as they came on stream from 1983 to 1991. Built by Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness, Trafalgar essentially was a much-improved Swiftsure design, with better underwater capability and endurance. They are also quieter, an advantage achieved by covering both the pressure hull and all the outer surfaces with conformal anechoic noiseReduction tiles. Power is supplied by a Rolls-Royce PWR.1 pressurised-water nuclear reactor, two GEC steam turbines, two Paxman diesel alternators, one shaft and one pump-jet propulsor. Naturally, as the requirement for submarine operations has changed in recent years so the Royal Navy has considered the future of its fleet. Following extensive studies the replacement of the Swiftsure class with a totally new design was deemed to be necessary. However, by 1990 it had become clear that unit costs for the proposed SSN-20 W Class would be in the order of Ł400m. When this was added to R&D costs and proposed reductions in defence spending were taken into account, the project was cancelled in 1991. Meanwhile, the study into the Batch 2 Trafalgar class submarines continued and it became apparent that further development of the Trafalgar class was the way forward. To differentiate between the Trafalgar class, now termed Batch 1 Trafalgar class, and the new variant, the name Astute class was chosen. Astute is the biggest and most powerful attack submarine to be built for the Royal Navy and, under the Smart Acquisition Programme, is being built roughly one-fifth more quickly than earlier boats. It will have lower running costs and a smaller ship's company of 108 plus 12 officers. Although Astute will be 30 per cent larger than the Trafalgar class, the larger hull means it will be easier and cheaper to build and maintain. From day one the submarine will be capable of operating Tomahawk III cruise missiles as well as more conventional weapons. Astute also will carry SSM sub-Harpoon fired from tubes and Marconi Spearfish torpedoes or mines. She will be fitted with six weapons tubes and will have increased firepower compared with the present attack-class submarines. FOSM Rear Admiral Stevens commented, "The services of SSN (Ship Submersible Nuclear) community has made a decisive break away from its cold-war emphasis on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) to embrace the Navy's new operational concept of Maritime Contributions to Joint Operations. The challenge now is to realise the full potential of the SSN across its wider range of taskings - operations in direct support of surface forces are becoming a far more important part of the submarine services operations." "The introduction of new secure communications links will provide the improved connectability essential for operating in conjunction with other task force units. Advances in technological areas of digitisation, miniaturisation and processing of information gathered, will enable the submarine (Astute) to become an increasingly valuable asset in covert intelligence gathering operations." HMS Astute is 97m long and displaces 7,200 tonnes, powered by a Rolls-Royce PWR-2 nuclear reactor, the vessel has an endurance of eight to nine years and a maximum submerged speed of 32kts. Conventional power will be supplied by two GEC turbines. To enhance the capability of the new submarine, navigational radar will be the Kelvin Hughes Type 1007. The combat data system will be the BAE SEMA SMCS and weapons control the Dowty Tactical Control System SAFS 3 FCS. Marconi Ferranti Type 2076 integrated suite supplies the sonar. Countermeasures will include two SSE Mk 10 launchers for Type 2066 and 2071 decoys and ECM Racal UAP 3 Passive Intercept. The Astute class also will have fully reelable towed arrays rather than the clip-on type now in use. Other equipment is to be finalised and upgrades will be announced during the building programme. China, Russia, France and the US have SSN programmes, some quite advanced. However, because of a lack of funds many Russian programmes have been curtailed. Five of their improved Akula-Class SSNs were laid down but only three were completed and two partially completed vessels were leased to the Indian Navy during 2002. One of China's Han Class SSNs made headlines in 1994 when it approached the carrier USS Kitty Hawk in the Yellow Sea in October 1994. China is now busy working with a Russian design team on a new, improved vessel to replace the ageing Han Class. Probably the most famous SSN is USS Nautilus. Commissioned in 1954 and retired in 1980 it showed the way. The current US SSN programme is well advanced with the Seawolf class, the latest in a long line. Twenty-nine boats were considered, 12 were ordered and now the figure is just three - two of which have been launched and the third to be completed in 2004. Unlike Astute the Seawolf carries around 50 weapons including Tomahawk, Harpoon and Mk 48 ADCAP torpedoes. Development of the Seawolf class has led to the Virginia class, a new programme now underway with 30 boats on order. Following development problems, the first French SSN did not join the fleet until 1983. However, the Rubis and Amethyste classes have operated from their Toulon base for many years and have been subjected to major update rebuilding programmes. France has announced a new SSN programme, the new Baracuda class will enter service from 2010, but details are sketchy and apart from the fact that this new class will be larger than Rubis/Amethyste and smaller than Astute, little is known. We have noted that India has on lease two Russian-built SSNs and are known to be developing a vessel of their own but details are not available and neither can reports that Brazil has, or will have, an attack-submarine programme in place. What is clear is that the requirement for such a vessel is more apparent than ever before and with programmes from the US, France and the UK underway, the SSN has an assured place - but at what cost? It is widely known that all the programmes have slipped mainly because of development parameters and available funds. None of the countries mentioned has unlimited resources, even the United States is feeling the need for economies as it attempts to police the world and to deal with a slipping economy at home. For more information visit BAe Systems or Royal Navy websites.

Astute attack

Britain's nuclear deterrent is to remain with the Royal Navy whose latest attack submarine will enter service late in 2006.