Summary and Key Points: The UK’s Astute-class submarines are cutting-edge, stealthy, nuclear-powered hunter-killers designed for covert operations, advanced warfare, and special forces deployment.
-With sophisticated Sonar 2076 arrays, powerful Spearfish torpedoes, and upgraded Block V Tomahawk missiles, these submarines match capabilities of the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class subs.
-Advanced computing and navigation systems, including the Astute Combat Management System, provide exceptional underwater situational awareness.
-Enhanced stealth features ensure silent operation, ideal for clandestine missions.
-Built to support Special Operations via specialized “lock-out-trunk” compartments, the Astute-class significantly boosts Britain’s underwater warfare capabilities, although questions remain on its overall quieting capabilities compared to its American counterpart.
-That one mission: hunt anything on the open ocean – and sink it.
Inside the Astute-Class: The UK’s Stealthiest Attack Submarine
Designed for both stealth and special operations, the Astute-class boasts a “lock-out-trunk” for deploying special forces.
With a planned fleet of seven, these submarines represent a significant leap forward in the UK’s naval capabilities, but questions remain if they can rival the quieting abilities of the US Navy.
Inside the UK’s Deadliest Sub: Cutting-Edge Tech of the Astute-Class
Armed with Spearfish heavy torpedoes and Block IV Tomahawks, the UK’s Astute-class submarines are regarded as among the world’s best fast-attack, hunter-killer submarines, as they incorporate a wide range of technologies that could easily be compared to US Navy Virginia-class attack submarines.
The UK ultimately plans to build a fleet of seven Astute-class boats as a replacement for its legacy Trafalgar-class submarines.
What Makes the Astute-Class Special Submarines
The Astute-class is armed with what its maker, BAE Systems, says is among the best sonar arrays, the Sonar 2076. The system is an integrated passive/active search and attack sonar suite with a bow, intercept, flank, and towed array, according to a BAE Systems essay as far back as 2002.
BAE has publicly called the Sonar 2076 the best sonar in the world, and it would seem interesting to see how it compares to the advanced Large Aperture Bow sonar built into Block III Virginia-class submarines.
Powerful Weapons Loadout
The advanced Astute-class British submarines can stow 38 weapons, described as a combination of torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles.
This is comparable to Block V US Navy Virginia-class submarines built to travel with as many as 40 Tomahawks due to the added Virginia Payload Modules section.
The UK also plans to arm the Astute class with new “Block V” Tomahawk missiles engineered with improved networking, target identification, and in-flight data connectivity.
Submarine Sensing & Computing
The most interesting element of comparison between the Astute-class and Virginia-class may reside in the realm of computing, sensing, navigation, and command and control.
The Astute-class submarines operate with an upgraded command and control technology called the Astute Combat Management System, a suite of sensors and data displays on the submarine’s command consoles.
The Astute Combat Management System seems to align with the US Navy’s “fly-by-wire” computerized navigation system built into Virginia-class Block III.
The “fly-by-wire” technology uses computer automation to set the depth and speed of the boat while a human performs command and control.
An essay in Naval Technology described the Astute class as the first “nuclear submarines to be fully designed using a three-dimensional, computer-aided environment.”
The Astute-Class Is a Stealth Submarine
Another critical question with the Astute-class submarines relates to the extent of “quieting” technologies and stealth attributes.
US Navy Virginia-class boats, for instance, have been upgraded with a series of communications and quieting technologies such as new antennas, coating materials, and propulsion system enhancements.
These improvements have been built into the entire fleet of Virginia-class attack submarines and are now deployed across the fleet.
The question with the Astute-class likely relates to whether the boats operate with comparable quieting technologies like Virginia-Class subs. This would determine how much the boats could conduct clandestine surveillance, patrol, or attack missions without being detected by enemy submarines or surface ships.
Special Operations Subs
Another interesting parallel between the Astute and Virginia-class submarines is that they both support Special Operations missions with a unique “staging” and “launch” area.
Virginia Block III boats are built with a “lock-out-trunk,” a dry area that can fill up with water to release special operations forces while submerged.
The Astute-class submarines operate with a similar configuration designed to support undersea launch of special operations.
Astute-Class Submarine Photo Essay
Royal Navy’s Astute-Class Submarines. BAE Systems.
Astute-Class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Astute-Class Submarine Royal Navy
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.
About the Author: Kris Osborn
Kris Osborn is the Military Technology Editor of 19FortyFive and President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
