Babcock has deepened its involvement in each the UK’s Dreadnought-class and the US Columbia-class nuclear submarine programmes, securing a major new order for missile tube assemblies and reinforcing its function within the Widespread Missile Compartment (CMC) venture.
In its preliminary outcomes for the yr ending 31 March 2025, the corporate confirmed that it had secured a brand new contract to produce an extra 36 missile tubes for the Columbia programme. The work builds on Babcock’s longstanding involvement within the superior manufacture of those assemblies for each the Royal Navy and US Navy.
“We proceed to ship additional missile tube assemblies for each the UK Dreadnought and US Columbia submarine Lessons, in assist of the widespread missile compartment programme,” the corporate said. “Our main place in superior manufacture of missile tube assemblies led to an extra contract award of 36 missile tubes by Common Dynamics Electrical Boat, who’s chargeable for the design and the development of the U.S. Naval Columbia submarines programme.”
The missile tube work is a key aspect of the CMC programme, which ensures interoperability between the UK and US strategic deterrent platforms by a standardised launch system. The design and manufacture of those elements is technically advanced and strategically important.
Babcock didn’t disclose the worth of the brand new contract, however it provides to the corporate’s rising defence order ebook, which now stands at £10.4 billion. It additionally displays rising confidence in UK industrial functionality to ship high-specification elements for allied submarine programmes underneath tight timelines.
Along with the missile tubes themselves, Babcock reported progress on different components of submarine functionality. “Our Mission Methods enterprise was awarded two important contracts in FY25,” it famous. These included “a contract for Lengthy Lead Objects for the Astute alternative, Submersible Ship Nuclear AUKUS (SSNA), enabling us to position orders for the primary components of the Weapon Dealing with and Launch System,” in addition to “an extra contract to produce Built-in Tube Hulls in assist of the US Columbia Class programme.”
The corporate additionally highlighted its persevering with function in offering “technical assist to the in-service TLAM Tomahawk missile.”
These developments kind a part of Babcock’s broader effort to place itself on the coronary heart of submarine sustainment and functionality modernisation for each the UK and its strategic companions. The work is concentrated at its websites within the UK, the place the corporate manufactures, integrates, and exams submarine techniques for each the UK Ministry of Defence and the US Navy underneath tightly managed export and safety protocols.
The Columbia and Dreadnought lessons are anticipated to serve into the second half of the twenty first century, making certain that missile tube manufacture and associated techniques work stay a long-term industrial precedence.
