Article Summary: The Royal Navy’s Astute-class submarines are some of the most advanced attack subs in the world, featuring near-silent propulsion, a powerful sonar suite, and an arsenal of Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Point #1 – With rising tensions in the North Sea and increasing Russian aggression, these submarines are a crucial part of Britain’s defense strategy. However, with only seven Astute-class subs planned, experts argue that the UK needs more to maintain maritime dominance.
Points #2 – As Russia strengthens its submarine fleet, will Britain’s Astute-class be enough to deter future threats, or does the Royal Navy need to expand its undersea force?
Astute-Class Submarines: The Stealthy Threat Russia Fears
The Royal Navy’s Astute-class submarines are a testament to British engineering.
They offer exceptional stealth, endurance, and firepower; some experts say they are the best attack submarines on Earth.
Equipped with Rolls Royce PWR2 reactors, these nuclear-powered subs can operate for 25 years without refueling, and they operate as quietly as baby dolphins.
The Astute-class submarines have a full-life core installed. As they were developed for SSBNs, the reactors are considerably larger than those of the then-current British fleet submarines.
Therefore, the diameter of the Astute-class hulls was increased to accommodate the PWR2. This eliminates the need for two reactor refits during its service life.
The Astute class boasts an unrivaled arsenal of Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
New advanced features, such as an optronic periscope, sonar system, and anechoic tiles, ensure these boats stay undetected while delivering devastating strikes.
Why Is the Astute-Class Needed: Increasing Russian Aggression
Despite being involved in a quagmire in Ukraine, Russia and President Vladimir Putin are continuing their aggressive tactics in the North Sea. John Healey, the UK’s Defense Secretary, told members of Parliament that RN ships were shadowing Russian spy ships operating close to the UK’s territorial waters. The Russian ship Yantar was used to gather intelligence and map the UK’s critical underwater infrastructure, such as cables and pipelines. He said the incident was “another example of growing Russian aggression”.
“For the last two days the Royal Navy has deployed HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne to monitor the vessel every minute through our waters,” Healy said.
“I changed the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement so that our warships can get closer and better track the Yantar. So far, the ship has complied with international rules of navigation.”
Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, 167 Russian “commercial” ships have been scouting out undersea cables and pipelines in the oceans surrounding Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and the UK.
The Dutch are so concerned about protecting their undersea infrastructure that they are considering all actions to deter further Russian spying, including boarding the vessels in question.
The Netherlands was hiring private security firms to protect underwater cables and pipelines after two undersea fiber optic communication cables that link Finland and Germany were cut in November.
With five active subs and two more expected by 2025, the Astute-class reinforces Britain’s maritime strength and is a formidable challenge to adversaries like Russia.
However, they need more submarines to patrol the North Sea to maintain vital shipping lanes to the UK and Europe.
According to most intelligence estimates, Russia’s surface fleet is weak. With many ships from the Soviet era still in service, several are in different stages of refit. However, it still possesses a formidable submarine fleet of 58-66 boats.
Astute-Class Submarines: Britain’s Way To Defeat Russia’s Navy
The Royal Navy ruled the seas for centuries, building the most significant warships in the world.
The island nation became the world’s most powerful empire through its command of the sea.
After World War II, the British were replaced by the United States, as they couldn’t compete with America’s industrial might. Great Britain had strict budgets and couldn’t afford to build, maintain, and man aircraft carriers like its American allies.
Therefore, the Royal Navy set out to build a world-class submarine service. The Astute-class submarine harkens the Royal Navy (RN) back to its glory days as the world’s envy.
Some claim the Astute-class submarines are even better than the US Virginia-class subs. The Astute-class could be considered slightly better in terms of speed, maneuverability, and potentially lower maintenance costs, while the Virginia class has a larger weapons payload and may be easier to operate due to its larger fleet size and compatibility with US Navy systems.
Image of Virginia-Class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Whether they are or not…is still bad news for Putin’s navy.
Meet the Astute Class Submarines
The RN built the Astute-class submarines to replace the aging Trafalgar-class boats. These nuclear-powered world-class submarines are known for their outstanding stealth (they are as quiet as baby dolphins), firepower, and endurance.
Rolls Royce built the propulsion system (PWR2 Reactors), and the sub won’t have to be refueled for its entire service lifetime, which is about 25 years.
Pressurized Water Reactors are very safe because the hotter the water used to cool them, the slower the nuclear fission reaction becomes, making them self-regulating.
The boat is 97 meters (about 308 feet) long, weighs 7,400 tons, can reach speeds of 31 knots, and has a crew of 98, down from 130 in the Trafalgar class. The Astute-class subs have six torpedo tubes and can carry 38 Spearfish torpedoes or Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles.
The Spearfish 1 torpedoes have a range of 30km and can be wire-guarded or use an inboard sonar system. The Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles have a range of about 1,000 miles.
When submerged, the sub carries a Dry Deck Shelter to launch Special Boat Service teams. When it is at the surface, it can also launch a Zodiac for SBS.
Baby Dolphin Quiet: Stealth Is Improved on Astute-Class Subs
The Astute class is considered one of the stealthiest submarines in the world. She utilizes advanced sonar systems and design features that minimize noise and acoustic signatures, allowing it to operate undetected underwater and as quietly as a baby dolphin.
More than 39,000 anechoic tiles cover the sub, absorbing active sonar pulses and reducing noise from inside the boat. The tiles’ chemical composition is classified, but they are made from an elastic material containing tiny air pockets and are optimized to reduce the typical sonar frequencies of homing torpedoes.
The reactor powers electric generators that power the boat through a pump jet system that is incredibly quiet.
Astute-Class Submarine Royal Navy
The Thales 2076 sonar system suite is considered one of, if not the best, in the world. The 2076 is an “integrated passive/active search sonar suite with hull and towed arrays,” according to the British Ministry of Defense. Thales has said that the sonar is so advanced that the crew submerged in the English Channel can identify a ship leaving New York Harbor.
Royal Navy Captain Ian Hughes said, “A good analogy for the performance of Sonar 2076 is that if the submarine was in Winchester it whould be able to track a double-decker bus going around Trafalgar Square” (a distance of about 60 miles).
New Periscope Is a Huge Improvement
The optronic periscope is one of the best innovations that improves boat operation. Until the development of the Astute class, all RN submarines had periscopes containing mirrors and prism arrangements that allowed the commander to observe the view directly above the waterline when the boat was at shallow depth. The periscopes were the typical collapsing tube types that everyone is familiar with that has ever watched old war films.
This new system is contained within the fin, and the CM010 electro-optical sensors gather high-definition digital imagery quickly. This reduces the time the mast is above the water when the submarine is potentially vulnerable to visual or radar detection.
The sensor head unit features 3-axis stabilization, giving a more stable and precise picture, even if the boat is pitching or rolling at periscope depth in rough seas. Instead of only allowing the operator to observe the scene, the new method can conduct a rapid 360º all-around look.
The command team can review the imagery on screens in the control room long after the periscope is lowered.
The British currently have five Astute-class submarines in service: Astute, Ambush, Artful, Audacious, and Anson. The new submarines under construction, Agincourt and Agamemnon, are expected to enter service sometime in 2025.
The Royal Navy Needes More Astute-Class
But seven isn’t enough. The Astute class are outstanding submarines, but our UK allies need to build more.
Astute-Class Photo Essay
Royal Navy Astute-Class Submarine.
Astute-Class Submarine. Image Credit: Royal Navy.
Astute-class Submarine. Image Credit: BAE Systems.
Astute class submarine HMS Ambush is pictured during sea trials near Scotland. Ambush, second of the nuclear powered attack submarines, was named in Barrow on 16 December 2010 and launched on 5 January 2011.
Image of Astute-class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Astute-class Submarine. Image: Creative Commons.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
