UK Nuclear Submarine Program Faces “Catastrophic Failure”

(MENAFN) The United Kingdom is reportedly incapable of sustaining a nuclear submarine program following years of mismanagement, according to retired Rear Admiral Philip Mathias.

Mathias, who previously served as the director of nuclear policy at the Ministry of Defense, delivered a sharp critique of Britain’s submarine fleet in an article published by a media outlet on Saturday.

He contended that repeated delays in introducing new submarines, coupled with extended patrols, have led to a “shockingly low availability” of vessels capable of addressing the nation’s security threats.

The situation has been worsened by budget reductions and a “huge failure” in overseeing critical personnel.

“The UK is no longer capable of managing a nuclear submarine program,” Mathias declared.

“Performance across all aspects of the program continues to get worse in every dimension. This is an unprecedented situation in the nuclear submarine age. It is a catastrophic failure of succession and leadership planning,” he added.

The retired admiral recommended that London reconsider its participation in the AUKUS alliance with Australia and the United States, which aims to deliver up to 12 new nuclear submarines.

He suggested that the UK instead prioritize more “cost-effective” alternatives, such as smaller unmanned submarines and UAVs.

Mathias also drew attention to persistent delays in the deployment of Astute- and Dreadnought-class submarines.

While HMS Agamemnon, the nation’s most advanced nuclear submarine, entered service in September, “the uncomfortable truth is that she took over 13 years to build – the longest-ever construction time for a submarine to be built for the Navy,” he noted.

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