UK gives BAE 4 billion pound contract for AUKUS submarine programme
(VOVWORLD) - Britain has awarded BAE Systems a 4 billion pound (4.9 billion USD) contract as part of the AUKUS programme with Australia and the United States to build attack submarines, defence minister Grant Shapps and the company said on Sunday.
 British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps speaks on stage at Britain's Conservative Party's annual conference in Manchester, Britain, October 1, 2023. (Photo: REUTERS) |
The US, Australia and Britain in March unveiled details of the AUKUS plan to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines from the early 2030s.
Britain, which will also operate the submarines, is pivoting its foreign and defence policy towards Indo-Pacific and is also seeking trade deals with fast-growing economies there after it left the European Union.
BAE Systems said manufacturing of the submarines would start towards the end of the decade, with the first SSN-AUKUS vessel due to be delivered in the late 2030s.