The Netherlands Ministry of Defence has provisionally selected Naval Group – offering its Black Sword Barracuda design – to deliver a replacement submarine capability to succeed the Royal Netherlands Navy’s current Walrus-class boats. Announcing the decision on 15 March 2024, State Secretary for Defence Christophe van der Maat said that the French naval shipbuilding, support […]
The Australian government has selected BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd to jointly build Australia’s new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in the latest significant development in the AUKUS trilateral security pact. SSN-AUKUS is a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) being developed in partnership with the US and Australia to satisfy the needs of […]
Babcock International Group PLC and the UK’s Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) have sealed a new agreement. The full cost recovery contract, worth approximately £560 million, is earmarked for the comprehensive maintenance and life extension program of HMS Victorious, one of the United Kingdom’s Vanguard Class nuclear submarines. The goal of this multi-year initiative is to […]
Much has been accomplished since the US, UK and Australia announced plans to develop a new generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines together, but much more remains to be done, as a November 2023 report published by the House of Commons Library explains. The report details many of the challenges facing the AUKUS nuclear submarine programme […]
JFD’s latest submarine rescue system is designed for accelerated mobilisation, optimised transportability, improved configurability and greater versatility, writes David Foxwell Subsea engineering and services group JFD has unveiled a fourth-generation submarine rescue system conceived to afford reduced response time and a high level of mobilisation flexibility. Developed in order to simplify transportation and improve system […]
thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited have signed a contract for overhaul and modernisation of Indian submarine INS Shankush. The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding between the partners in June 2023 for the construction of submarines for the Indian Navy in India. INS Shankush is the second submarine in a series of […]
By Dr MJ Cianni, CEng., FRINA, FIEAust In order for the AUKUS submarines to operate for 33 years without refuelling they will need to use highly enriched uranium (HEU) at 93% to 97%, with a mass in excess of 200Kg. Since HEU is highly efficient, enabling a 200Kg HEU mass over 33 years would give […]
Dutch builder U-Boat Worx has released an update on the interior design for its forthcoming Nautilus concept, a 37.5 vessel designed to function as both a private yacht and a fully functional submarine (see Ship & Boat International November/December 2022, pages 24-25, for an in-depth look at the vessel). The interior design was created in […]
Leonardo DRS has been awarded contracts valued at more than US$1 billion, when fully funded to provide integrated electric propulsion components for the US Navy’s next-generation Columbia-class submarine. The Columbia-class submarines will replace the fleet of Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. The integrated electric propulsion components will be manufactured in the company’s Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Menominee Falls, […]
A contract has been awarded for ongoing support of the NATO Submarine Rescue System as other countries also invest in submarine rescue capability In December 2022, UK-based JFD was awarded a further contract in support of the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS). The NSRS ‘Third In-Service Support’ (3ISS) contract is a five-year contract that is […]
General Dynamics Electric Boat conducted a keel-laying ceremony for the first Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine, USS District of Columbia (SSBN 826) at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, on 4 June 2022. District of Columbia will be the first of a 12-boat class, which will replace 14 US Navy Ohio-class nuclear-powered ballistic submarines from 2027 onwards. The transition […]
Warship Technology October 2021
Under the ‘AUKUS’ partnership unveiled in September 2021, the Royal Australian Navy is to build a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarines, but questions abound about their design, how and where they will be built and how they will be maintained and manned.