British submarine HMS Audacious completes first dive

Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The HMS Audacious, Britain's latest nuclear-powered submarine, has successfully completed its first dive, reports shipbuilder BAE Systems.

The Royal Navy's fourth Astute-class attack submarine was completely submerged for the first time at the company's Barrow, England, facility, and many of the 318-feet long vessel's onboard systems were successfully tested.

The submarine is capable of carrying Tomahawk missiles and striking targets up to 600 miles away.

The Audacious was launched in 2017, and will undergo sea trials later this year.

At the time of its launch, BAE Systems Submarines managing director Will Blamey said the ship "enters the water in a more advanced state of build than any previous Astute-class submarine, which puts us in a good position for the next phase of work, the testing and commissioning of her complex systems."

The submarine joins the Astute-class vessels, the HMS Astute, HMS Artful and HMS Ambush, which are already in service with the Royal Navy. Three more submarines of the class are currently under construction.