Astute-class Nuclear Attack Submarine

The Astute-class Nuclear Attack Submarines are the latest class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines in service with the Royal Navy. The class sets a new standard for the Royal Navy in terms of weapons load, communication facilities and stealth. The boats are being constructed by BAE Systems Submarine Solutions at Barrow-in-Furness. Sixteen boats will be constructed for the Royal Navy. In the 2020s, the Canadian government ordered six Astute-class nuclear attack submarines to replace their three aging Lake Superior-class submarines, named the Kingsmill-class. The Royal Australian Navy would also order four Astute-class SSNs in the early 2030s.

Specifications

 * Type:Nuclear Attack Submarine
 * Service Period: 2007-Present
 * Characteristics
 * Length: 376 feet (114.6 meters)
 * Beam: 37 feet (11.28 meters)
 * Draught: 33 feet (10.06 meters)
 * Displacement: 8,200 tonnes (Surfaced); 8,700 tonnes (Submerged)
 * Crew: 98
 * Propulsion: Rolls-Royce PWR 2 reactor, MTU 600 kilowatt diesel generators
 * Range: Unlimited
 * Speed: 33 knots (61.17 km/hr)
 * Sensors and Processing Systems
 * Thales Type 2076 Sonar
 * Atlas DESO 25 echosounder
 * Thales CM010 optronic masts x 2
 * Raytheon Successor IFF
 * Armament
 * 6 x 21" torpedo tubes (with 38 Spearfish or Mk.46 ADCAP heavyweight torpedoes)
 * 1 x 16-cell Mk.45 VLS (fires UGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles and/or UGM-84 Harpoon)

Royal Navy

 * HMS Astute (S119)
 * HMS Ambush (S120)
 * HMS Artful (S121)
 * HMS Audacious (S122)
 * HMS Anson (S123)
 * HMS Agamemnon (S124)
 * HMS Ajax (S125)
 * HMS Agincourt (S126) - sea trials
 * HMS Andromeda (S127) - fitting out
 * HMS Amethyst (S128) - under construction
 * HMS Atlas (S129) - under construction
 * HMS Arethusa (S130) - under construction
 * HMS Aisne (S131) - planned for construction
 * HMS Alacrity (S132) - planned for construction

Royal Australian Navy

 * HMAS Hunter (SSN-93)
 * HMAS Flinders (SSN-94)
 * HMAS Tasman (SSN-95)
 * HMAS Brooks (SSN-96)

Royal Canadian Navy

 * HMCS Kingsmill (SSN-885)
 * HMCS Landymore (SSN-886)
 * HMCS DeWolf (SSN-887)
 * HMCS Murray (SSN-888)
 * HMCS Rayner (SSN-889)
 * HMCS Timbrell (SSN-892)