During the course of this morning, British company Babcock announced that it has been awarded a new contract allowing it to prepare for the first nuclear defueling in more than 20 years of a Royal Navy submarine—specifically, the HMS Swiftsure, a unit of the class bearing the same name. According to the official statement issued by the company, the contract spans three years and required an investment of £114 million from the UK Ministry of Defence.
Expanding on relevant details of the agreement, it was reported that the work covered by the contract will be carried out at the company’s facilities in Devonport (Plymouth), the same site currently undergoing a large-scale infrastructure renewal program. It was also stated that Babcock will partner with the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) to carry out the defueling of the submarine, to be followed by three more submarines scheduled for the same process. In terms of timeline, Babcock and its partners are expected to be ready by 2026, at which point the critical process to dismantle these vessels is expected to begin.
Chris Gardner, current CEO of the Submarine Delivery Agency, commented on these matters: “The signing of this contract with Babcock is a significant step towards the safe defueling of the decommissioned submarines in Devonport, a crucial part of the UK’s commitment to fully dismantling the retired fleet in the most responsible way possible. Collaboration with our industry partners plays an essential role in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise’s ability to support the national endeavour and maintain the UK’s nuclear deterrent“.
For her part, Maria Eagle, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, stated: “This contract enables the first nuclear defueling of a British submarine in over 20 years, underlining this Government’s commitment to responsibly manage the legacy of our nuclear submarine fleet.” She also welcomed the creation of up to 150 new jobs associated with the program, which already helps sustain another 300 positions within the UK defence industrial complex.
Finally, it is worth noting that the dismantling program for the HMS Swiftsure submarine will stand out not only for being the first carried out in more than two decades but also for being the first to be fully dismantled in order to recover nearly 90% of its components. This follows an extensive radiological review of its structure. To this end, Babcock partnered with KDC Veolia Decommissioning Services UK Ltd (KDCV) in November 2024, and is working at its Rosyth facilities on demonstration projects aimed at ensuring the program is carried out safely and under strict environmental standards.
Images used for illustrative purposes only
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