Quiet As ‘Baby Dolphin’: Astute-Class Submarine Should Not Be Toyed With

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Key Points: The British Royal Navy’s Astute-class submarines, exemplified by the newly commissioned HMS Anson, represent cutting-edge undersea warfare capabilities.

-Some experts say these submarines are as quiet as a baby dolphin because of their stealth acoustic signature. 

-At $1.5 billion each, these nuclear-powered fast attack submarines boast advanced systems such as Tomahawk cruise missiles, Spearfish torpedoes, and Sonar 2076 for superior detection and engagement.

-With stealth, efficiency, and versatility, the Astute-class replaces the older Trafalgar-class, delivering unmatched endurance with nuclear reactors that don’t require refueling for 25 years.

-These subs play crucial roles in defense, carrier escort, reconnaissance, and deterrence, placing adversaries like Russia on alert.

Astute-Class Submarines: The Royal Navy’s Undersea Game-Changer

You have to hand it to the British Royal Navy for dripping with class when describing one of the best fast attack submarines in the world.

Listen to these monikers for their own Astute-class of boats: Astute, Ambush, Artful, Audacious, and Anson, plus the new subs under construction Agincourt and Agamemnon.

It seems like these could be the names for British aristocratic country manors

Another Astute-class Is Ready for War

This spring, the Royal Navy’s fifth Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine finalized sea trials off the east coast of the United States. Britain worked with their American counterparts to better test the fast attack subs. The trials for the HMS Anson happened at the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center near the Bahamas.

Crews have been busy since the boat was commissioned in September 2022. The first order of business was weapons trials, which were conducted off the northern Scottish coast. The British tested the sub’s Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Let’s Be Honest About the Price

The HMS Anson didn’t come cheap. It set the British government back $1.5 billion, but the Royal Navy believes the cost is worth it.

This is the most advanced and biggest attack submarine in the fleet. It can remain submerged as it traverses the globe and can even make its own oxygen and drinking water.

Not the Usual Periscope

The Astute-class boats displace 7,400 tons and are 318 feet long. Their top speed is 30 knots. The Astute-class subs do not have a traditional optical periscope—they use highly evolved video technology in an optronic periscope for better situational awareness.

Rotating Crews Are More Efficient

Two crews for each boat are available to keep the subs at sea for as long as possible. The sailors serve between two to four months before rotating out. This keeps operational tempo shorter and places less stress on families.

Tomahawks Can Chop

Astute-class subs feature the Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missile Block IV. This missile has a range of over 1,000 miles with unmatched accuracy.

Operators can change the targeting of the missile while it is in flight and the warhead is able to send back imaging information to the sub where it was launched.

Look Out for the Spearfish Torpedoes

But the British are most proud of the 38 Spearfish torpedoes on board. The Spearfish weighs two tons and has an eye-opening range of 14 miles. If it travels at low speed, the range increases to 30 miles. The torpedo is wire-guided or sonar-guided and has a 660-pound warhead.

Sonar and Sensors Are Best In Class

The Royal Navy is also excited about the boat’s command and control system. There are numerous sensors onboard and outside the sub plus above water and below water. The sub can devise a firing solution in seconds. The Astute-class also features Sonar 2076 – an “integrated passive/active search sonar suite with hull and towed arrays,” according to the British Ministry of Defense.

What’s the Mission for Astute-Class?

All navies are secretive about their submarines, so it is not clear how the British are utilizing the Astute-class. I would bet one is sneaking around the Black Sea now to keep an eye on the Russian navy. At least one is providing home defense, and another is used for carrier escort operations.

An Astute-class can also patrol with one of the four Vanguard-class nuclear-ballistic missile submarine.

The Astute class is definitely an expensive “glow-up” for the British navy, but upgrades were due. The Astute class replaces the 40-year-old Trafalgar class. The Astute-class nuclear reactor does not have to be refueled for another 25 years. That is good news for the British, who are happy to have a high level of deterrence from their navy in the coming decades.

I’m impressed with the Astute-class. It is a fully modernized boat that is well-armed and ready to make a difference in the water. The Spearfish torpedo is exciting, and it would be interesting to see how that weapon continues to test.

All told, the British have a hit on their hands with the Astute-class. Now, it will be up to the crews to show their prowess and enter into multi-mission status – either with attack, escort, or reconnaissance duties. Consider the Russians to be placed on notice. Vladimir Putin’s navy is probably not happy that Britain continues to build Astute-class boats.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.