illusion8
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Britain on Monday announced plans to go for next generation nuclear-armed submarines, awarding a 1.1 billion pounds contract to Rolls-Royce to produce reactor cores for the new sub.
The project would ensure the country “sovereign nuclear capability”, defence secretary Philip Hammond said.
He said the initiative is part of plans to replace the Vanguard fleet of submarines, which carry theTrident nuclear missiles.
But the move was opposed by the Scottish government which said it would be an “obscenity” to go ahead with the initiative.
Scotland Government’s strategy secretary Bruce Crawford said the Scottish Government was committed to the “earliest possible withdrawal” of the nuclear deterrent.
He said, “What is quite clear is that the people of Scotland are opposed to the new nuclear weapons system on the Clyde, the British nuclear base sited in highlands.
I think it’s an obscenity that we’re going to be pressing ahead at this time with this particular system.”
However, Hammond told BBC “Having balanced the MoD's books we can now invest in vital strategic capabilities to meet the present and future defence needs of the UK."
The ministry of defence said that replacing the existing infrastructure at Rolls-Royce with state-of-the-art nuclear reactor core production facilities would cost about 500 million pounds.
Another 600 million pounds will be spent on producing new reactor cores for the Astute and Successor Class submarines, it said.
Rolls-Royce wins UK nuclear submarine contract - Hindustan Times
http://frn.beedall.com/fsm.htm
The project would ensure the country “sovereign nuclear capability”, defence secretary Philip Hammond said.
He said the initiative is part of plans to replace the Vanguard fleet of submarines, which carry theTrident nuclear missiles.
But the move was opposed by the Scottish government which said it would be an “obscenity” to go ahead with the initiative.
Scotland Government’s strategy secretary Bruce Crawford said the Scottish Government was committed to the “earliest possible withdrawal” of the nuclear deterrent.
He said, “What is quite clear is that the people of Scotland are opposed to the new nuclear weapons system on the Clyde, the British nuclear base sited in highlands.
I think it’s an obscenity that we’re going to be pressing ahead at this time with this particular system.”
However, Hammond told BBC “Having balanced the MoD's books we can now invest in vital strategic capabilities to meet the present and future defence needs of the UK."
The ministry of defence said that replacing the existing infrastructure at Rolls-Royce with state-of-the-art nuclear reactor core production facilities would cost about 500 million pounds.
Another 600 million pounds will be spent on producing new reactor cores for the Astute and Successor Class submarines, it said.
Rolls-Royce wins UK nuclear submarine contract - Hindustan Times
At DSEi in September 2007, BAE Submarine Solutions unveiled some of its thinking that it and industry partners were developing to inform the the MOD's Future Submarine project. In particular they displayed two concepts.
Concept 35 was a relatively conservative approach clearly evolved from the Vanguard class, it was developed primarily to illustrate a submarine design philosophy ultimately driven to reduce costs throughout the whole life of the submarine - which had become a major influence driving the redesign of the Astute-class. The philosophy included:
Simplifying submarine assembly
Removing the need for extensive and intrusive dockyard modernisation
Reducing the number of piece parts and bespoke submarine systems
Doing nothing that would impact adversely on the submarine signature or safe operation
Concept 35 demonstrated how technology can deliver this substantial and sustained reduction in cost of ownership of submarines. The concept also included:
A next generation Naval Propulsion Plant, with extensive passive features and designed for disposal
Extensive use of automation for submarine control, damage control and condition monitoring
Full electric propulsion with shaftless drive
Externally mounted tactical weapons
Electrical actuation of control surfaces
Replacement of obsolescence equipment, with extensive use of current military and commercial off-the-shelf equipment.
(Above) A model of BAE's Advanced Hull Form submarine concept. (Source: D McArthur
Rather more ambitious was the Advanced Hull Form submarine concept, this uses modular design techniques and advanced hydrodynamic thinking to break out of the constraints imposed by the classical body of revolution design.
The resulting unusual external hull form offers advantages in signatures, manoeuvring and safety, and provides large volumes for payloads and equipment outside the pressure hull. This gives exceptional flexibility in design and operation, with the maximum opportunity for rapid role change or upgrading.
Safety is enhanced by the hydrodynamic design, which offers improved manoeuvring and emergency recovery compared with current designs. It is further improved through the external payload and equipment locations, which minimise hull penetrations and improve watertight integrity.
The Advanced Hull Form has been designed for low cost fabrication using largely flat or single curvature surfaces. This approach also allows rapid repair and modification, giving the basis for a flexible and economical platform through life.
http://frn.beedall.com/fsm.htm
