Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there will be an operational gap between the vanguard class submarines and dreadnought class submarines; and if so, how long that gap will that last for.
As set out in the United Kingdom (UK)’s future nuclear deterrent: the 2020 update to Parliament, the Dreadnought submarine programme remains on track for the First of Class, HMS Dreadnought, to enter service in the early 2030s. During the phased transition from the Vanguard Class to the Dreadnought Class there will be no compromise to the UK’s Continuous At-Sea Deterrent. The Government’s integrated review of security, defence, development and foreign policy, confirmed we will maintain our submarines so that at least one will always be on a Continuous At-Sea Deterrent patrol. It is UK policy to not disclose further planned out of service and in-service dates for submarines, as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our Armed Forces.