Astute-class

The Royal Navy’s stealthy nuclear-powered fleet attack submarine — armed with Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes and Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, sheathed in some 39,000 anechoic tiles and propelled by a pump-jet for near-silent, long-endurance patrols.

Overview

The Astute class is the United Kingdom’s latest nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, precision land attack, intelligence gathering and special-forces support. Each boat displaces 7,400 tonnes submerged and carries up to 38 heavy weapons in six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. The class is the Royal Navy’s premier underwater strike asset, replacing the Trafalgar class and extending the UK’s global submarine reach.

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