LONDON, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Britain's Ministry of Defense has given BAE Systems contracts worth a total of $119 million to procure lead items for the Vanguard Successor submarine program.
The Successor submarines, which will carry Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent from 2028, are being designed by BAE Systems Maritime-Submarines, based in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
"The award of these first procurement contracts is a significant milestone and further underlines the government's commitment to BAE Systems and the submarine program," said Tony Johns, managing director of BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines. "
"The design of a nuclear powered submarine is incredibly complex and we continue to make good progress in the engineering phase of the program. The first submarine is due to be in service by 2028, so to achieve that target it's essential we begin the procurement process now to ensure we can start construction on time."
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The two contracts -- for about $76.6 million and $52.1 million -- were announced in a report to Parliament by British Defense Secretary Phillip Hammond Monday.
Essential items being procured include structural fittings, electrical equipment, castings and forgings.
"This ... investment is another important milestone in our preparations to build these world leading submarines," he said. "The current Vanguard class of deterrent submarines perform a vital role in the defense of the UK and the replacement for this capability is of national importance.
"The Successor program is supporting around 2,000 jobs and up to 850 British businesses could benefit from the supply chain as we exploit the most modern technologies, and employ a significant portion of the UK's engineers, project managers and technicians over the coming years."
The program is now in its third year of a five-year design and development phase. BAE Systems is working on the design with the Ministry of Defense, Rolls-Royce and Babcock.
