UK Awards £9 Billion, 8-Year Contract to Rolls-Royce for Nuclear Submarine Reactors, Boosting Jobs and AUKUS Partnership

Jan 24, 2025, 01:07 AM

The UK government has awarded Rolls-Royce a £9 billion contract to design, manufacture, and support nuclear reactors for the nation's submarine fleet. This eight-year deal, named Unity, is expected to safeguard 4,000 jobs and create over 1,000 new positions. The contract aims to enhance national security and stimulate the UK economy, with Defence Secretary John Healey emphasizing its role as an engine for growth and a commitment to the UK's nuclear deterrent. The expansion at Rolls-Royce's Raynesway site in Derby, driven by increased demand from the Royal Navy and the AUKUS defence partnership, will almost double the site's size and create 1,170 skilled jobs across manufacturing and engineering disciplines. The deal is also expected to save taxpayers more than £400 million over the contract period by streamlining previous contracts.