His Majesty The King has formally welcomed HMS Agamemnon into the Royal Navy during a ceremony at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, before conferring Royal status on the Port of Barrow, a moment hailed as a proud day for the Royal Navy, the shipbuilding community, and the nation.
HMS Agamemnon, named after the ancient Greek king, is the sixth of seven Astute Class submarines being built by BAE Systems.
At 97 metres long and weighing 7,400 tonnes, the Astute Class represents the cutting edge of naval technology. Powered by advanced nuclear reactors that never need refuelling, the vessels can generate their own oxygen and fresh water from the ocean, giving them the ability to circumnavigate the globe without surfacing. Equipped with world-leading sensors, they carry both Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAM) and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.
Five Astute Class submarines are already in service, while work is also well under way in Barrow on the seventh and final boat.
Last year, James Cartlidge, then Conservative Minister for Defence Procurement, said: “HMS Agamemnon will play a vital role in defence of the nation, providing our Armed Forces with a competitive edge for decades to come. The Astute Class programme continues to support tens of thousands of jobs, with these submarines being a leading example of our commitment to investing in British sovereign capabilities.”
The commissioning of HMS Agamemnon underscores Barrow’s position as the home of UK submarine design and build. The previous Conservative Government invested heavily with BAE Systems to expand the shipyard, ensuring it remains the centre of Britain’s future submarine capability. Alongside the Astute Class, construction is underway on the first three Dreadnought Class boats, the next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines that will replace the current Vanguard fleet. In addition, BAE Systems is developing the SSN-AUKUS programme as part of the trilateral defence pact with Australia and the United States, cementing Britain’s role as a global leader in submarine technology.
In a separate ceremony this week, the cutting of steel on the fourth and final Dreadnought Class submarine, King George VI, also took place, officially beginning its construction.
The defence nuclear sector now supports more than 13,500 jobs in Barrow. That number is set to grow to around 17,000 in the coming years, securing skills, apprenticeships, and livelihoods across the North West. Over £200 million has also been pledged over the next decade to strengthen Barrow as a thriving community at the heart of Britain’s national security.
Images: MOD Crown Copyright News / Editorial Licence.
