UK awards £114m contract to Babcock for submarine defueling, first in over 20 years

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded a £114 million ($145 million) contract to Babcock International Group to prepare for the nuclear defueling of decommissioned Trafalgar-class submarines, marking the first such operation in more than 20 years.

The three-year contract will support the defueling of four retired submarines at Babcock’s Devonport facility in Plymouth, with operations expected to resume in 2026. The work is part of the submarine dismantling project (SDP), led by the defence nuclear enterprise (DNE), and is considered a prerequisite to full dismantling.

In a statement, Babcock said the project represents a “significant milestone” for the SDP and will be conducted alongside the company’s broader infrastructure development programme at Devonport, designed to support the Royal Navy’s operational submarine fleet.

Defence Procurement and Industry minister Maria Eagle said the contract underscores the government’s intention to "responsibly manage the legacy of its nuclear submarine fleet."

Babcock chief executive David Lockwood said the operations would strengthen the UK’s nuclear skills base. “The defueling operations at Devonport will create more than 150 new jobs and support more than 300 across the wider supply chain.” Lockwood said.

Submarine Delivery Agency chief executive Sir Chris Gardner described the agreement as a “significant step” in the UK’s efforts to dismantle retired nuclear-powered submarines.

Separately, Babcock is working on a demonstrator project at its Rosyth facility, also under the SDP, to dismantle the former HMS Swiftsure. According to the company, around 90 per cent of the vessel’s structure and components are expected to be reused or recycled.