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The United Kingdom (UK) has announced an £8.4 billion ($11.2 billion) investment to advance the next phase of its Dreadnought Class nuclear submarine programme, with the government saying the project will create thousands of training opportunities and support jobs across the country.
The funding package is expected to support 22,000 apprenticeships over the next decade, as part of efforts to strengthen Britain’s defence industry while creating opportunities for young people.
“A major £8.4bn investment in the UK’s nuclear deterrent, delivering jobs and opportunity for young people for years to come,” Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s office said in a statement announcing the plan.
The investment will support the construction of four Dreadnought-class nuclear-powered submarines, which are being built by UK defence contractor BAE Systems, a British defence and aerospace company, as a key component of Britain’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent.
Under the agreement, BAE Systems will receive £5.9 billion, while the remaining funds will be distributed across the wider supply chain involved in the programme.
The government said the investment will help the first submarine, HMS Dreadnought, complete sea trials before entering service with the Royal Navy in the early 2030s. The second vessel, HMS Valiant, will also move towards the sea trial stage, while construction work on the third and fourth submarines will continue.
Burnham said the programme would deliver long-term economic benefits, supporting 47,000 jobs and apprenticeships linked to the project.
“The submarines will protect Britain for decades to come, and the 47,000 jobs and apprenticeships will change lives both in this town and in dozens of places like it,” he was expected to say during a visit to the BAE shipyard in Barrow, northwestern England.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the funding demonstrated the government’s commitment to strengthening domestic manufacturing and defence capabilities.
“This secures our commitment to deliver Dreadnought Class submarines by backing British industry,” Streeting said.
The announcement comes as Britain prepares to increase investment in its nuclear deterrent. The government has allocated more than £63 billion over the next four years for defence projects, including the Dreadnought submarines and new attack submarines being developed under the AUKUS security partnership with Australia and the United States.
However, Burnham faces pressure to balance increased defence spending commitments with wider budget challenges, including a projected £4.7 billion gap in Britain’s defence funding plans over the next four years.
