Rolls-Royce Submarines has entered a long-term collaboration with Assystem, AtkinsRéalis, and Frazer-Nash to expand engineering and nuclear capability across its defence programmes. The partnership forms part of the new Capability Assured Strategic Partnership, which aims to consolidate specialist expertise within the UK’s nuclear supply chain and support the Royal Navy and wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
With a value of up to £400m, the agreement is one of the largest supply chain commitments undertaken by Rolls-Royce Submarines. It will deliver additional engineering capacity, nuclear skills, and professional services to help the company meet rising demand across current and planned reactor programmes.
Chris Walker, Supply Chain Director at Rolls-Royce Submarines said, “We are in a nuclear renaissance across the UK and demand for this expert capability is growing all the time. The intent behind this strategic alliance is to harness the collective capabilities of each party to successfully deliver complex nuclear programmes and explore advanced nuclear technologies.
“We recognise that if we want to grow our business and maintain our critical commitments to the Ministry of Defence, then we cannot do it alone. Our decades-long relationships with Assystem, AtkinsRéalis and Frazer-Nash see the partners ideally placed to support us, bringing unique insight across the capability landscape.”
The partnership supports Rolls-Royce’s broader expansion plans following confirmation that it will supply nuclear reactor plants for the next generation of attack submarines under the AUKUS arrangement. Increased programme activity is driving the planned doubling of the company’s Raynesway site in Derby, which will create more than 1,000 skilled roles in manufacturing and engineering, with further job growth expected across the supply chain.
Rolls-Royce has supported the UK’s nuclear submarine fleet for more than 65 years and remains the only private organisation able to manage the entire lifecycle of submarine reactor technology within a single entity.
