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Royal Navy's Most Advanced Attack Sub Prepares For Sea Trials
Barrow-in-Furness, UK (SPX) Sep 11, 2009 The largest, most powerful and stealthiest nuclear attack submarine ever built for the Royal Navy is preparing to leave the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness for sea trials. BAE Systems is responsible for the design, build and initial in-service support for the Astute submarine class currently under construction at the company's shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness. The first of class HMS Astute is undergoing final test and commissioning work before leaving for extensive sea trials prior to entering service with the Royal Navy. A further three Astute class vessels, Ambush, Artful and Audacious are currently under construction with long lead orders placed for equipment for a fifth submarine. The keel for Audacious was laid at the shipyard earlier this year. Design and construction of the Astute class involves over 7,000 design drawings and more than 1 million components. The construction method for a nuclear submarine means that the first of class presents the challenges of both a prototype and a first production model, with many of the design elements proved and refined during the construction cycle, takes from concept design to a finished nuclear powered submarine. Powered by a nuclear reactor more complex than those found in power stations, Astute is designed to operate over 25 years without refuelling, patrolling for up to 90 days submerged and undetected. Safety is a primary consideration as the boat's 98 crew live and work in close proximity to the reactor while operating in the harshest environment on the planet, the deep ocean. Astute is capable of undertaking a variety of mission roles including anti-ship and anti submarine action, intelligence gathering and support for land forces. She is armed with heavyweight Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles capable of delivering pinpoint strikes up to 1000 kilometres from the coast. Astute is also equipped with the latest stealth technology to avoid detection and the advanced Sonar 2076 system to locate and identify other vessels. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Brazil close to borrowing 6.1 billion euros for choppers, subsBrasilia (AFP) Sept 2, 2009 A senate committee has given a green light to a 6.1-billion-euro loan from six European banks for Brazil to build French designed helicopters and submarines to modernize its military. "The committee gave a unanimous green light Monday but it still must be approved by the full Senate" in coming days, a spokeswoman for the Senate Economic Affairs Committee said. The loan would come from ... read more |
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