Ryan FowlerRolls-Royce Submarines has signed the largest contract in its history with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), worth approximately £9bn. The eight-year Unity contract encompasses all aspects of research, design, manufacturing, and in-service support for the nuclear reactors powering the Royal Navy’s submarines, including the Dreadnought Class and SSN-AUKUS programmes.
The agreement marks a new way of working between Government and industry, combining current and future submarine work into a single, integrated portfolio. Unity aims to improve collaboration, efficiency, and outcomes for the Royal Navy while supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs across the UK.
Steve Carlier, president of Rolls-Royce Submarines, said: “We’re delighted to announce the Unity contract, which confirms our commitment to the Royal Navy and the Defence Nuclear Enterprise. This long-term contract enables us to invest in the right skills, equipment, and facilities to play our part in protecting UK interests at home and overseas.
“The Unity contract enables our business to work truly collaboratively with the Ministry of Defence, meeting the evolving needs of the UK Royal Navy, further improving reactor plant design, delivery and in-service support, ensuring the continuing security of our nation at a time of global uncertainty.”
The Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, highlighted the strategic importance of the agreement, stating: “This investment in Britain’s defence will deliver a long-term boost to British business, jobs and national security.
“In line with our upcoming defence industrial strategy, this deal with Rolls Royce, a historic British success-story, will support high-skilled UK jobs who equip the thousands of submariners that keep us all safe. We are showing defence can be an engine for growth, while also driving better value for taxpayer money.”
The Unity contract will create 1,000 new jobs within Rolls-Royce Submarines by the end of the term, with the majority based in Derby and additional roles in satellite offices in Glasgow and Cardiff. It also strengthens the UK’s nuclear expertise and provides opportunities for the wider supply chain, which predominantly operates within the UK.
Sir Chris Gardner KBE, CEO of the Submarine Delivery Agency, said: “The signing of the Unity contract is a key milestone in the SDA and Rolls-Royce partnership, building resilience, collaboration, and capability.
“Bringing together existing commercial arrangements, it is a clear signal of our commitment to deliver greater effectiveness, efficiency, and agility to meet the needs of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise and support the Royal Navy’s submarines now and into the future.”
