Royal Navy launches newest Astute-class submarine, boosting UK and NATO deterrence
The Royal Navy’s sixth Astute-class attack submarine, HMS Agamemnon, left BAE Systems’ Barrow shipyard to begin sea trials, marking a key step in the UK's defence buildup.
The Royal Navy’s latest Astute-class submarine, HMS Agamemnon, set sail from BAE Systems’ Barrow-in-Furness yard to start sea-trial testing, a milestone in the fleet’s modernization. The nuclear-powered vessel, affectionately called “Awesome Aggie,” was commissioned last September by the King and is equipped with heavyweight Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk IV land-attack missiles, capable of striking targets over 1,000 miles away.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the boat’s role in strengthening deterrence for the UK and NATO, while Andy Burnham praised the thousands of workers across the British submarine supply chain. Built in Cumbria, the 97-metre submarine draws power from a Rolls-Royce reactor, eliminating the need for refuelling during its operational life. Its entry into service aligns with the Defence Investment Plan’s £47 billion allocation for submarine programmes and the SSN-AUKUS initiative, which aims to deliver a new submarine roughly every 18 months.
Why it matters
The launch enhances the UK's maritime deterrence and supports jobs and industrial capacity in the defence sector.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage stresses the submarine's high price and government spending, while right-leaning coverage highlights its role in NATO deterrence and the jobs it supports.
LEFT
Frames the launch as a costly defense acquisition showcasing advanced weaponry and government investment
RIGHT
Frames the launch as a strategic boost to UK/NATO deterrence and a boon for domestic employment
The left emphasises
- £1.4 billion price tag
- armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and Spearfish torpedoes
- government committing £6 billion to infrastructure programmes
The right emphasises
- strengthening deterrence for the UK and NATO
- praise for thousands of workers in the supply chain
- capable of striking targets over 1,000 miles away
Possibly left out
- Left-leaning coverage reports the £1.4 billion cost, absent from right-leaning coverage
In this story
