The United Kingdom’s Nuclear Submarine Industrial Base: Options for Initial Fuelling

Cost increases in maintaining regulating licenses at BAE Systems’ Barrow-in-Furness shipyard and Devonport Management Limited’s (DML’s) facility have led the UK Ministry of Defence to consider the possibility of consolidating its nuclear fuel handling capabilities at DML. This report assesses where the United Kingdom’s nuclear fuelling of submarines should occur to best minimise cost and schedule risks, particularly regarding the Astute submarine programme, which is already under way.