Name HMS Ajax In service 2024 (planned) Identification Pennant number S125 Length 97 m Endurance 3 months | Cost £1,640m (budget) Homeport Faslane Status Under construction Draft 10 m | |
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Builder BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines | ||
HMS Ajax (S125) (also known as "Astute-class Boat 7") is a proposed Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy and will be the seventh in her class. She was to have been the ninth vessel of the Royal Navy to bear the name HMS Ajax, after the Greek hero Ajax; however while some previous official and unofficial sources state her name as "Ajax", others state she is still yet to be officially named, referring to her simply as "Astute boat 7".
Contents
The confirmation for the seventh and final Astute-class boat was given in the Strategic Defence and Security Review of October 2010, although an order has yet to be placed. On 11 December 2012 the British government announced that long-lead items had been ordered for boats 6 and 7.
Propulsion
A confusing press release suggested that Ajax would have the same PWR3 nuclear reactor as the Successor-class SSBNs but in October 2012 it was confirmed that she would have a PWR2 like the rest of the Astute class. Ajax's nuclear reactor will not need to be refuelled during the boat's 25 year service. Since the submarine can replenish her air supply and purify water underway and while submerged, she will be able to circumnavigate the planet without resurfacing. The submarine's main limitation will be from the three months supply of food carried for the 98 officers and ratings.
Weapons
Ajax will have provision for up-to 38 weapons in six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. The submarine will be capable of using Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.