Ambush emerges from build facility
Wednesday, 05 January 2011
Barrow-in-Furness, United Kingdom -- The latest Astute class submarine emerged from BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, today.
The 7,400 tonne, 97m long Ambush was slowly moved from the Company’s giant Devonshire Dock Hall build facility to begin the next phase of its test and commissioning process.
It comes after the state-of-the-art submarine’s naming ceremony before Christmas, when thousands of guests witnessed its sponsor, Lady Anne Soar, the wife of the Royal Navy’s Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral Sir Trevor Soar, officially name the boat.
BAE Systems is the lead contractor of the seven-boat Astute programme, and the launch of Ambush follows the formal commissioning into the Royal Navy of the first of class HMS Astute last year.
The Astute class are the largest and most powerful attack submarines ever ordered by the Royal Navy, each one weighing 7,400 tonnes and packed with unrivalled capabilities. The sonar suite has the processing power of 2,000 laptops and the boats are armed with Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles and Spearfish torpedoes. The boats can manufacture their own oxygen from sea water and are fuelled for life by a nuclear reactor so powerful it can power a city the size of Southampton.
Notes to Editors:
In November 2010 HM Government confirmed its intention to proceed with seven Astute Class submarines all of which will be built in Barrow-in-Furness.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).
For further information, please contact:
Neil Lauderdale
Tel: (01229) 875714
Mob: 07525 391013
Neil.lauderdale@baesystems.com
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