Successful First Dive for Astute
31 Oct 2007 | Ref. 344/2007
Barrrow, UK - A major element of the United Kingdom’s future defence and security capability has successfully completed a critical milestone in its development programme. The first of class Astute, the most advanced and capable class of submarines ever built for the Royal Navy, has dived beneath the waves for the first time, at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow, North West England.
Astute is crammed with some of the world’s most sophisticated technologies, including advanced nuclear reactor, sonar, optical mast, combat management and weapons systems. But paradoxically, the measurement of its performance during this maiden dive was assessed using a tool employed by generations of submarine builders and naval architects – a simple plumb line, similar to that used by the ancient Egyptians while building the pyramids.
The line, suspended on up to eight metres of wire running through three decks, has its large pendulum ‘bob’ immersed in a bath of oil to dampen its swing. As the boat is rolled from port to starboard, accurate measurements are taken to prove that the submarine is performing according to its design specifications.
“The workforce at Barrow continues to demonstrate that although the production of nuclear powered submarines requires a specialist subset of skills, in line with the government’s Defence Industrial Strategy, we have the ability to deliver the intellectual resource and technologies required,” states Murray Easton, managing director BAE Systems Submarine Solutions.
“Astute class submarines will play a key role in the defence of the United Kingdom for decades to come. The boats demonstrate a step change in capability when compared to those they will replace.”
During two days of tests, involving a joint BAE Systems and Royal Navy crew of 60, the dive characteristics of Astute will be tested, along with safety critical systems including escape hatches, hydraulics and electrics.
On completion of the first dive tests, Astute will return to dry land and re-enter the huge Devonshire Dock Hall at Barrow, for further engineering and commissioning work. She is due to be handed over to the Royal Navy next autumn and enter service in 2009.
Once deployed, Astute is designed not to require refuelling throughout her full service life – in excess of 25 years – and has the ability to patrol for 90 days while remaining undetected, thousands of miles from home and hundreds of metres underwater.
BAE Systems, as the UK’s only manufacturer of submarines, is responsible for the design, build and initial in-service support of the four 7,400 tonne Astute class boats currently under various stages of construction and commissioning at its Barrow facility.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 96,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15 billion (US $27 billion) in 2006*.
*On a pro forma basis, assuming BAE Systems had owned Armor Holdings Inc for the whole of 2006
For further information please contact:
Chris Nelson, BAE Systems Submarine Solutions
Tel: +44 (0) 1229 875975 Mobile: + 44 (0)7793 422810
chris.nelson@baesystems.com
John Neilson, BAE Systems
Tel: + 44 (0) 1252 384795 Mob: + 44 (0)7802 337704
john.neilson@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384605 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
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