Due to begin entering service in the early 2030s, the four Dreadnought Class submarines will replace the Vanguard Class submarines in carrying the UK's independent nuclear deterrent. The overall Dreadnought Alliance programme is expected to support in the region of 30,000 jobs across the UK over the life of the programme.
Designing and building submarines is a national endeavour and takes thousands of highly-skilled people.
The challenge of a generation
The Dreadnought Class will be one of the most complex machines ever built and it will operate in one of the most hostile environments on the planet.
As the largest Class of submarine ever built for the Royal Navy, each will boast 26.4 miles of pipework and more than 20,000 cables stretching 215 miles – further than travelling between London and Leeds.
The four Dreadnought Class submarines, each the length of three Olympic swimming pools, will maintain CASD, responsible for safeguarding our national security and way of life, for as long as the international security situation makes it necessary. The Dreadnought Programme is a truly incredible national endeavour.