Rolls-Royce Submarines to Expand Raynesway Site to Accommodate AUKUS Submarine Reactor Demands
As part of the AUKUS agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, Rolls-Royce confirmed in March 2023 that it would provide all of its nuclear reactor plants to power the AUKUS nuclear submarines as part of the agreement.
On 13 June, Rolls-Royce announced that it would double the size of its Raynesway site, which is one of the three sites that Rolls-Royce Submarines operate out of, funded by the British Ministry of Defence.
The site expansion comes as the Royal Navy has increased demand for growth because of the AUKUS deal, and is reported to create over 1,000 new jobs on top of the 4,000 already employed at the Rolls-Royce Submarines who are dedicated to supporting the Royal Navy’s fleet of submarines and their pressurised water reactors, a type of light-water nuclear reactor.
Rolls-Royce Submarines President Steve Carlier said:
“This is a truly exciting time for our business, with work secured that will see us support UK and Australian submarines well into the second half of this century. It will see thousands of jobs created across the UK supply chain, many of which here in Derby, and we’re proud to be playing our part in this international endeavour.
For over 60 years we have provided the power to the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines and our expansion plans are the first step in helping Australia acquire their own nuclear propulsion attack submarine capability, while showcasing British innovation and expertise on the world stage.”
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Not only does Rolls-Royce provide support for nuclear reactor plant equipment for the Royal Navy but also across the world. It is also supporting the construction programmes of the Royal Navy’s Dreadnought and Astute class submarines, both being built by BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, England.
The planned SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines are to be also constructed by BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness for the UK, however, it is unknown just yet who will construct the submarines at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide. The new submarines will replace the UK’s Astute-class and Australia’s Collins-class submarines and are expected to be in service by the late 2030s and late 2040s in each country respectively.