UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps today announced a commitment to strengthening the country's nuclear deterrent. The initiative, defined as a national commitment ("national endeavour") by the Prime Minister, provides for a government investment of more than £200 million to support the nuclear defense industry and the economy of the region Barrow in Furness, hub of submarine construction.
The plan includes significant investment with the aim of creating over 5.000 new traineeships over the next four years and quadrupling the number of PhDs in the nuclear sector, thanks to an overall investment of at least £763 million, resulting from collaboration between government and leading companies such as BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, EDF and Babcock.
The "Defense Nuclear Command Paper" outlines a broad spectrum of programs and collaborations with industry and international partners, underlining the crucial importance of maintaining the UK's nuclear deterrent in a global context increasingly unstable.
Among the key points, the document provides for the maintenance of the current fleet of class submarines Vanguard (opening photo) and the related nuclear warheads, as well as the development of the new submarines of the class Dreadnought, which will enter service in the early 30s, and a new nuclear warhead.
The fleet of nuclear-powered and conventionally armed submarines will also be strengthened with the completion of the class Astute (photo) and the design of the future SSN-AUKUS fleet, in close collaboration with US and Australian allies as part of the innovative trilateral AUKUS partnership.
Defense Secretary Grant Shapps' recent visit to Australia has strengthened international collaboration under the AUKUS partnership, which includes collaboration on nuclear defense projects and supports thousands of jobs in the UK, especially in Barrow in Furness e Derby.
The UK's submarine program affects around 42.000 jobs and a supply chain of 3.000 companies.
The plan will also significantly affect the expansion of the workforce and the improvement of naval base infrastructure, with particular attention to compliance with international obligations and the prospect of a world without nuclear weapons.
Photo: Royal Navy
