New Navy Attack Submarine Unveiled

A new Royal Navy nuclear submarine capable of firing Tomahawk missiles 1,000km has been rolled out of its dockyard to undergo preliminary tests.

The 97-metre long attack sub HMS Audacious was edged from it's home in Barrow-in-Furness, ahead of sea trials expected to take place next year.

Will Blamey, BAE Systems Submarines Managing Director, said the day was "an important milestone in the Astute programme": 

“Audacious enters the water in a more advanced state of build than any previous Astute class submarine, which puts us in a good position for the next phase of work - the testing and commissioning of her complex systems.”

The 7,400-tonne BAE Systems-built vessel is the fourth of seven Astute class submarines and is armed with Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk land attack missiles.

They were designed to be able to strike at targets up to 1,000km from the coast and are equipped with the latest sonar capability and powered by a nuclear reactor.

Three more Astute class submarines are at different stages in the building process in Barrow.