Keir Starmer to announce huge nuclear submarine expansion as UK told to be ready for war

Keir Starmer will today announce major plans to almost double the UK’s nuclear-powered submarine fleet.

The Prime Minister will set out the building of 12 new attack submarines as part of the AUKUS programme, a security partnership between , the UK and the US.

He will also announce a major £15billion investment in the UK’s nuclear warhead programme.

The PM will make the announcements as he unveils the Government's new Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The externally-led review is expected to recommend the move to warfighting readiness to deter the growing threats faced by the UK.

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The UK currently has five Astute class attack submarines, which are on track to become a fleet of seven warships in the near future. These will be replaced one by one with the new SSN-AUKUS attack submarines from the late 2030s. A further five new submarines will take the total to 12.

A major expansion of the industrial capabilities at Barrow and Raynesway, Derby, will see a new submarine built every 18 months in the future. These will all be built by the UK and operated by the Royal Navy.

Any possible Australian submarines committed in the future will be in addition to this and would be supported by the UK and US navies.

The Astute class submarines cost £1.6billion per warship so the new AUKUS commitment is expected to cost multiple billions of pounds.

The UK nuclear warhead programme relates to nuclear-armed submarines, which are warships containing nuclear missiles. They are different to nuclear-powered submarines, which are not armed, but have a nuclear reactor to generate power, allowing them to operate for extended periods, at high speeds and with stealthy quietness.

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The programme involves the building of warheads, which are the front part of a bomb or missile that contain explosives. The UK has four nuclear-armed Vanguard Class submarines, which each contain Trident II D5 missiles carrying UK nuclear warheads.

The UK is also in the process of replacing the Vanguard class with four new Dreadnought class submarines and the warheads themselves.

The said the submarine announcements will together support 30,000 highly skilled jobs across the country well into the 2030s, as well as helping to deliver 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles across the next decade.

The investment will also back the Government's commitments to maintain the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent, build a new fleet of Dreadnought submarines and deliver all future upgrades.

The landmark SDR will today set out 62 recommendations, which the government is expected to accept in full tomorrow. Significant investment in the UK warhead programme this parliament and maintaining the existing stockpile are among the demands.

The Prime Minister earlier this year announced the UK would increase its defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with an ambition to raise it to 3% in the next Parliament.

In an event launching the SDR today, the PM will say: “From the supply lines to the front lines, this government is foursquare behind the men and women upholding our nation’s freedom and security.

“This Strategic Defence Review will ensure the UK rises to the challenge and our Armed Forces have the equipment they need that keeps us safe at home while driving greater opportunity for our engineers, shipbuilders and technicians of the future.”

Defence Secretary John Healey said: “Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression.

"With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad.”

What is expected in the Strategic Defence Review?

In response to the Strategic Defence Review, the Government’s commitments will include:

• Getting the armed forces to a stage where it would be ready to fight a war

• Boosting weapons and equipment stockpiles and making sure there is capacity to scale up production if needed in a crisis or war

• £1.5billion to set up at least six munitions factories

• Buying up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons in a move due to support 800 defence jobs

• Setting up a new cyber command and investing £1billion in digital capabilities

• More than £1.5billion of additional funding to repair and renew armed forces housing

• Boosting recruitment for Britain's armed forces - with the number of cadets increasing by 30%

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