Boris Johnson has given a speech in Barrow at the unveiling of Britain’s latest nuclear submarine.
Mr Johnson spoke at BAE Systems during the commissioning ceremony of the fifth Astute Class submarine HMS Anson.
His appearance in Barrow is one of his last engagements as Prime Minister.
The £1.45 billion nuclear missile-powered submarine which is part of the Astute-class programme, took nine-and-a-half years to build.
It is the fifth of seven planned hunter-killer attack submarines replacing the Trafalgar-class boats and weighs in at 318ft and 7,800 tons.
HMS Anson will not carry the UK’s Trident missile system, but will instead be armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and Spearfish torpedoes.
The PM was joined by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles at the ceremony.
Mr Wallace said: “Today is a significant milestone in the UK and Australia’s preparation to confront growing threats to the liberal democratic order, especially in the Indo Pacific.
“Not only have we progressed our defence planning but Minister Marles participated in the commissioning of our latest attack submarine, on which Royal Australian Navy submariners will be embarked as we develop our shared capabilities in the years ahead.
“Built in a UK shipyard, HMS Anson demonstrates the very best of British industry, sustaining our world-leading sub-surface capabilities and underlining the UK’s readiness to contribute them to shared security, especially with our closest allies Australia and the United States under the AUKUS initiative.”
BAE Systems chief executive Charles Woodburn said: “The Astute class submarines are among the finest engineering accomplishments in the world. As the custodian of the UK’s submarine design and build capability, we’re incredibly proud of the role we play in the delivery of this strategic national endeavour.”
BAE Systems Submarines managing director, Steve Timms, said: “A great many people in our business and across the submarine enterprise and wider supply chain have been involved in the design and construction of this magnificent vessel, and I want to thank each and every person for their contribution.
“On behalf of everyone at BAE Systems, I also want to wish HMS Anson and her crew all the very best for the future.”
BAE Systems has delivered the first four submarines in the Astute class which are currently in service with the Royal Navy. The sixth and seventh boats are at an advanced stage of construction in Barrow.
The Dreadnought class submarines, which will replace the Royal Navy’s Vanguard class, carrying the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent, are also being designed and built in Barrow. Manufacturing work is well under way on the first two of four Dreadnought submarines, with the first of class due to enter service in the early 2030s.
The third programme being undertaken by BAE Systems is for the Royal Navy’s next generation of submarines which will eventually replace the Astute class, referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSNR). Early design and concept work formally began following an £85m contract award by the Ministry of Defence in 2021.
