ASTUTE CLASS SUBMARINE

 The Astute class submarines are the next generation  Nuclear attack submarine of the British Navy. The Astute class submarines is the first new class of  submarines to be fielded by the British navy in over three decades. These boats are expected to set a new standard for the Royal navy in terms of weapons load, improved communications facilities, stealth and crew comfort.  The boats are being built by BAE System Submarine.

DEVELOPMENT OVERVIEW

The end of the Cold war has seen the Royal Navy change it’s submarine employment strategy from emphasis on anti-submarine warfare to the concept of “Maritime Contributions to Joint Operation.” This called for a new class of submarines in order to replace Cold War-era submarines which were developed around the concept of deep sea underwater operations. In an age were

terrorism is a constant threat, the design called for a new class of submarines would be able to perform a wide range of operations while retaining it’s primary task as an anti-submarine platform. Some of these operations include; intelligence gathering, underwater reconnaissance, and special forces insertion, task which older classes of submarines could not perform.

Plans by the navy is for seven boats to replace the existing two classes of submarines (Swiftsure and Trafalgar).

SERVICE

The first of the Astute Class submarine, the HMS Astute was commissioned

on 27 August 2010. The 7,400 ton vessel is the most capable submarine ever operated by the British navy. The submarine is equipped with some of the most sophisticated technology in the world. It’s sonar is capable of identifying and tracking vessels across thousands of square miles of ocean. It is also the first submarine to replace a conventional periscope with two optical mast incorporating digital video technology. The Astute  carries a heavy weapons payload. It’s six  torpedo tubes can launch a variety of weapons which include: harpoon anti-ship missile, spearfish torpedoes, and naval mines. The submarine can also launch the latest Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets more than a thousand miles away with pinpoint accuracy in support of land operations. The submarine’s design to undertake a wide range of tasks makes it a formidable force at sea. The submarines  operations range is only limited by food and maintenance requirements. The Astute class submarine has been designed with long-term technological innovation in mind and would be one of the submarines at the  fore-front of open-ocean and littoral operations for decades to come.