VIRTUAL EVENT
The Science and Art of Contemporary Submarine Design – SSN AUKUS, the Royal Navy's Future Attack 'Hunter Killer' Submarine
EVENT DESCRIPTION
The UK MoD are undertaking a design programme for the next generation attack submarines for the Royal Navy. The increasing instability in global security over the last decade has underpinned the need for a strong presence within the underwater battlespace and therefore justified the provision of a highly capable submarine at its centre. There is an enduring need to sustain and advance the attack submarine capability by ensuring that a new class of submarines are available to replace the currently in-service Astute class as they begin to transition to decommissioning and disposal from the late 2030s.
Through the 2010s, a programme of work was completed under the banner of MUFC (Maritime Underwater Future Capability) that confirmed the need, type and quantity of submarines required to support UK defence policy. In 2020, that direction was translated into contracts being placed with Industrial Partners of the Submarine Enterprise, to undertake a concept design project - SSN(R) - exploring solutions that deliver against key strategic outcomes. In 2022, the AUKUS pact was announced by the leaders of Australia, UK and US for sharing of technical information relating to attack submarine design, including nuclear propulsion. Under the auspices of the AUKUS agreement in 2023, it was further announced that the SSN(R), newly designated SSN AUKUS, submarine design will also be the design to deliver the first nuclear powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. The SSN AUKUS programme is now working hard to mature the design from concept phase to detailed design and readiness for manufacture.
SPEAKERS/PRESENTERS
David Hooper BEng (Hons) MRes CEng MRINA,
Chief Naval Architect / Deputy Chief Engineer,
BAE Systems Submarines,
and
James Ashcroft CEng MRINA,
DCE Platform Joint Design Authority SSN-AUKUS,
Submarine Delivery Agency
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