UK Signs 10-Year Nuclear Sub Powerplant Maintenance Contract

SSBN Vanguard Class(click to view full) The UK Ministry of Defence has signed a partnering contract with Rolls-Royce worth up to GBP 1 billion over 10 years to provide through-life support of the pressurized water nuclear reactors on board the Royal Navy’s nuclear powered submarines. The Flotilla Reactor Plant Support contract covers all aspects of support to the Nuclear Steam Raising Plants of the SSN Swiftsure Class and SSN Trafalgar Class fleet submarines (Pressurised Water Reactor Mk1), and to the new SSN Astute Class fleet and SSBN Vanguard Class ballistic submarines (Pressurised Water Reactor Mk2, removes the need to refuel the reactor during its service life). SSN Swiftsure Class(click to view full) Rolls-Royce has been supplying Nuclear Steam Raising Plants to the Royal Navy for almost 50 years from their production site at Raynesway, but this contract is different because it falls within the “future contracting for availability” initiatives of the UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy. Technical support, management of spares, the provision of plant safety cases and product development capability are all included. Rolls-Royce and the UK MoD will form a joint team to set agreed service levels, whereupon Rolls Royce will manage the process and be paid for meeting […]