UK Awards £9 Billion, 8-Year Contract to Rolls-Royce for Nuclear Submarine Reactors, Boosting 1,000 New Jobs

Jan 24, 2025, 09:09 AM

The UK government has awarded Rolls-Royce a £9 billion contract, dubbed the 'Unity' contract, for the design, manufacture, and support of nuclear reactors that power the Royal Navy's submarine fleet. The eight-year agreement will enhance the UK's continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent and support the AUKUS trilateral partnership. The contract is expected to create 1,000 new jobs and safeguard 4,000 existing positions. Defence Secretary John Healey highlighted the deal as a key component of the government's defence industrial strategy, emphasizing its role in boosting British business, jobs, and national security. The Unity contract also includes support for the in-service submarine fleet, the building and commissioning of Dreadnought-class submarines, and the initial phases of the SSN-AUKUS programme. The deal is projected to save more than £400 million over its term.