Anson submarine build affected by Audacious issues
The delivery schedule of Anson, as the fifth of the seven-boat Astute class of submarines due to enter service with the UK Royal Navy, has been impacted by the issues uncovered during the build of fourth-in-class Audacious.
Due to replace the ageing Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered attack submarines, the 97m-long, 7,400t Astute boats are well-regarded globally and represent the UK’s prime conventional deterrents.
However, the development of what is effectively a Batch 2 variant for Boats 4-7 (Audacious, Anson, Agamemnon and Agincourt) has been hit by technical issues on Audacious.
It has now expected
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment
Australian businesses can now bid to support Virginia-class submarine sustainment in Western Australia, as momentum around the Henderson Defence Precinct also builds.
-
South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest
Washington’s search for a foreign-built frigate could hand South Korea, Japan and Turkey a larger prize than a double-hull order: a foothold inside the US shipbuilding industrial base.
-
Japan’s FY2027 budget bets on stand-off systems to offset demographic decline
Japan’s FY2027 defence budget backs stand-off strike, a 17-aircraft MQ-9B buy and a declared bid to lead the world in uncrewed maritime assets, alongside new frigates, submarines and support ships.
-
Russia’s uncrewed boat portfolio hints at future naval demand
Ukrainian intelligence has catalogued more than 20 Russian uncrewed surface vessels, revealing a portfolio weighted towards mine warfare and logistics, with implications for Western naval investment.
-
Ukraine’s new long-range 12m autonomous vessel can deploy other drones
Ukraine’s UForce unveiled the MV11 uncrewed surface vessel, designed to launch and support other naval drones at sea, fuelling debate over the future of autonomous maritime task groups.