Babcock Secures Contract for Nuclear Submarine Defuelling

Major defence contractor Babcock has been awarded a three-year contract to prepare for the first nuclear defuelling of a decommissioned Trafalgar Class submarine in over 20 years. The operations are expected to take place at Babcock’s Devonport facility in Plymouth. 

Totalling £114 million, the Ministry of Defence contract will see Babcock working collaboratively with the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) to prepare for the defuel of four decommissioned submarines. Defuelling is expected to begin from 2026. 

Commenting on the contract, the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, said: 

“The work at Devenport will not only ensure we meet our environmental obligations but also create more than 150 new jobs and develop crucial skills in the South West. This partnership between the Ministry of Defence and Babcock demonstrates how our defence industry continues to drive innovation and sustainability, while creating skilled jobs which contribute to our growth mission and our plan for change”.

Eagle’s comments were echoed by Babcock Chief Executive, David Lockwood: 

“We are proud to support the UK’s submarine fleet in the defence of our nation, ensuring the vessels are safe and available for decades of Royal Navy operations, through to their secure disposal.

Babcock is focused on attracting more people into the UK’s nuclear industry and the defuelling operations at Devonport will create more than 150 new jobs, sharing knowledge and innovation across the wider submarine enterprise, while supporting more than 300 jobs in the wider supply chain”.

Defuelling represents the first stage of submarine dismantling and must be completed before the full dismantling process can begin. At present, Babcock is undertaking a demonstrator project at its Rosyth facility in collaboration with the DNE’s Submarine Dismantling Project, which will see the former HMS Swiftsure be the first UK nuclear-powered submarine to be fully dismantled. 

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