BARROW-IN-FURNESS, England (Chatnewstv.com) — King Charles III on Monday commissioned the Royal Navy’s newest attack submarine, HMS Agamemnon, in a ceremony that also saw Barrow-in-Furness granted Royal Port status, underscoring the town’s central role in Britain’s nuclear deterrent.
The event came as Defence Secretary John Healey announced the start of construction on the fourth and final Dreadnought Class submarine, King George VI, hailing the milestone as evidence of the government’s commitment to maintaining the country’s continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent.
“Submarine building is a vital UK industry, sustaining thousands of jobs and apprenticeships up and down the country, all while continuing to keep the country safe around the clock,” Healey said. “Barrow is an outstanding example of security and growth working hand-in-hand.”
The Ministry of Defence said more than 13,500 defence nuclear jobs are now supported in Barrow, a figure that has risen by 1,000 since July 2024. Across the UK, the sector employs over 47,000 people and is projected to grow to 65,000 by 2030, with 22,000 apprenticeships and 9,000 graduate roles expected to be created over the next decade.
Chief of Defence Nuclear Madelaine McTernan called the steel cutting for the King George VI “a significant milestone marking positive progress in this extraordinary programme.” She said building the submarines was “a truly national endeavour” that reflects the expertise of a vast UK supply chain.
The government has pledged a further £6 billion investment in the defence nuclear sector over this spending review period, including in Barrow, with the goal of increasing production to a new submarine every 18 months in the coming years.
Charles Woodburn, chief executive of BAE Systems, which builds the submarines, described Monday as “a proud day for Barrow and everyone involved in the wider UK submarine enterprise.”
The Dreadnought Class submarines, expected to enter service in the early 2030s, will be the most advanced ever operated by the Royal Navy. Together with the Astute Class attack submarines, they will form the backbone of Britain’s nuclear deterrent for decades to come.
