BAE Systems announced that the UK Government has awarded the company new £5.9 billion contract, funding critical work to progress the UK’s Dreadnought Class nuclear deterrent submarines towards entry into service.

“Work on first of class, Dreadnought, continues apace at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, ready for delivery to the Royal Navy in the early 2030s,” said the firm.

“The contract also covers continued progress on the build of boat two, Valiant, and fabrication and outfitting of the remaining two boats, Warspite and King George VI, which are in the early stages of construction.

“The four-boat Dreadnought Class programme will replace the existing Barrow-built Vanguard fleet, ensuring continuation of the UK’s critical Continuous at Sea Deterrent capability. They will be the biggest, most powerful and technically advanced submarines ever built for the Royal Navy.”

The Dreadnought programme supports approximately 30,000 jobs across the UK, with more than 7,000 people currently working on it at BAE Systems alone.

The BAE Systems contract forms part of a wider £8.4 billion package approved by parliament for the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The build programme is being delivered in collaboration with the MOD’s Defence Nuclear Enterprise, the partnership of organisations that operate, maintain, renew and sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent.