Defence minister Maria Eagle visited HMNB Clyde to discuss the upcoming £250 million upgrade programme to the home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service.
The base, commonly referred to as Faslane, houses more than 6,500 military and civilian personnel and is home to the Vanguard-class submarines which carry nuclear missiles to provide Britain’s Continuous At-Sea Deterrent (CASD).
In the U.K. Government’s recent Strategic Defence Review (SDR) a £250m series of upgrades to the submarine base was announced to guarantee the site can accommodate the next-generation boats due to enter service with the Royal Navy in the decades ahead.
These include the successor to the Vanguard-class CASD boats, the Dreadnought-class submarines; the first of these is expected to enter service in the early 2030s. They also include the forthcoming SSN-AUKUS boats, the RN’s future attack subs that will replace the Astute-class fleet.
On Wednesday Scottish Secretary Ian Murray and Minister for Defence Procurement & Industry Maria Eagle toured the base and met its chiefs and local authority leaders to discuss “maximising the benefits” of the revamp, dubbed “Clyde 2070.”
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “This defence dividend for Scotland will help ensure Britain’s security, deter our adversaries and drive economic growth in the area for years to come.
“With Faslane home to the nation’s first and final line of defence – the UK’s nuclear deterrent, it’s only right that Clyde 2070 represents one of the most significant U.K. Government investments over the coming decades.
“It will ensure the Royal Navy can deliver the CASD from a modern, efficient base which will result in a better environment for our hero submariners to live, work and train in.”
Minister for Defence Procurement & Industry Maria Eagle added: “Our nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of the UK’s defence and the cornerstone of our commitment to NATO and global security and Scotland plays a crucial role in that.
“We are today re-affirming that unshakeable commitment by launching this multi-billion-pound investment to His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, which is vital to our deterrence capability. The initial £250 million of funding over 3 years will support jobs, skills and growth across the west of Scotland.”
- You can read more details on the U.K. Government website