Babcock International and the UK Ministry of Defence’s Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) have signed an initial contract for the multi-year refit of the second of the UK’s Vanguard-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), the company announced on 13 July 2023.
The initial full-cost recovery agreement, which will be replaced with a contract on the same terms for the full programme before the end of the year, enables Babcock to begin deep maintenance of the SSBN in question, HMS Victorious, at its facility at Devonport, near Plymouth, in the county of Devon.
The refit programme, which will support around a thousand jobs in the local community, will see Babcock continue to build its workforce for delivering future submarine maintenance at Devonport.
“This is the result of a truly collaborative effort with the SDA,” Dominic Kieran, Babcock’s CEO for nuclear programmes, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “The work we do to support the Vanguard-class fleet, a vital part of the UK’s defence, has never been more important.
“The commercial framework we have agreed will ensure the retention of our skilled workforce, support future recruitment and enable us to focus on supporting the SDA in its drive to increase submarine availability,” Kieran added.
SDA CEO Chris Gardner was quoted as saying, “The completion of HMS Victorious’ Deep Maintenance Period is vital to supporting Defence’s highest priority. We look forward to working with Babcock to deliver the project on time to enable ongoing submarine availability and to continue to transform Devonport Naval Base into a Centre of Excellence for submarine deep maintenance.”
Babcock further noted that submarine support “is critical to the defence of the UK and requires specialist engineering skills and dedicated infrastructure. Babcock, the SDA and the Royal Navy are currently in discussions with the intention of finalising a long-term strategic partnership to ensure the stable, safe, effective and efficient delivery of deep and base maintenance of submarines. Expected to replace current commercial arrangements under the Future Maritime Support Programme, this would place Babcock on a similar footing to other key industrial partners, as part of a wider defence nuclear enterprise.”
The Royal Navy operates four Vanguard-class SSBNs – Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant and Vengeance – that are based at based at HM Naval Base Clyde near Glasgow in Scotland. These boats, armed with Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missiles, are the delivery platforms for the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
The Vanguard-class SSBNs will serve into the 2030s, when they will be replaced by a new fleet of four Dreadnaught-class SSBNs.
Lead boat HMS Vanguard completed a much-delayed second Long Overhaul Period and Refuel (LOP(R)) refit earlier this year and left Devonport in May. HMS Victorious arrived in Devonport for its second refit in June.
Peter Felstead
