Overview

• The Royal Navy’s sixth Astute-class attack submarine carried out the trim and basin dive in Devonshire Dock at BAE Systems’ Barrow yard.
• The three-day trials verified stability, buoyancy and watertight integrity, confirming the pressure hull performed as intended.
• Royal Navy crew and BAE engineers set the internal weight, calibrated sensors and fine-tuned ballast settings for precise underwater handling.
• The 7,400-tonne boat was commissioned last month and is preparing to leave Barrow to join the fleet at Clyde for sea trials.
• BAE says its submarine workforce has grown to about 15,000 as it completes Astute boats, builds Dreadnought-class submarines and advances AUKUS design work.