BAE Systems has received a $381 million contract to perform the final design phase on a new class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines for the British Royal Navy.
“This funding will now allow us to mature the design over the next 12 months to enable us to start construction in 2016,” said Tony Johns, managing director for BAE Systems’ submarines business.
The company was awarded approximately $950 million in contract funds in 2012 under the initial stage of the U.K.’s Vanguard-class submarine project.
The program underwent a design evaluation and is about halfway through a five-year assessment phase.
BAE will build the Vanguard watercraft at the company’s Barrow facility, where the firm is constructing ›-class attack submarines for the British navy.