The Royal Navy Is Looking At Building Nuclear Powered Surface Vessels

In an interesting update, the Ministry of Defence has submitted a request for information on the use of fourth generation nuclear technologies, which include both large and small reactors. Yet putting a nuclear reactor on a ship is a substantial initial investment that few can afford.

Nations belonging to the nuclear-powered surface vessel club include Russia, the United States, France, and India. Nuclear-powered vessels allow countries to deploy unimpeded on the sea for longer, but they are usually tens of billions of dollars more expensive than conventionally fueled ones. However, if a nuclear-powered vessel is kept in service for decades, the cost is about the same as that of a gas powered vessel due to savings on fuel. 

While nuclear-powered ships would prove to be a boost to the Navy, the specter of budget cuts looming over major projects in the MOD makes the feasibility of a potential project uncertain.