AtkinsRéalis Group Inc., a world-class engineering services and nuclear company with offices around the world, has been appointed to provide nuclear and infrastructure expertise to deliver critical nuclear-powered submarine facilities in the UK.
Rolls-Royce Submarines has jointly appointed AtkinsRéalis and Mott MacDonald as its new fissile design partner as part of plans to double the size of its submarines site in Derby, England. The facility expansion is addressing significant growth in demand from the UK Royal Navy and the tri-lateral AUKUS submarine program, which will support Australia in acquiring its first conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet. AtkinsRéalis and Mott MacDonald, working together as the PROPEL joint venture, will design the new nuclear manufacturing facilities and work with the incoming fissile construction partner to deliver them.
Ian L. Edwards, President and CEO of AtkinsRéalis, said: “Demand for defense equipment and infrastructure is increasing, driven by the shift to strengthen national security from governments world-wide. AtkinsRéalis is well-positioned to support this rapid rise in major defense programs through our multidisciplinary expertise across defense, nuclear and complex infrastructure. This appointment reflects our ability to design and deliver highly specialized facilities that will help to increase the delivery rate of submarines for this critical program.”
Rolls-Royce is currently supporting the existing Astute and Dreadnought boat build programs through the delivery of reactor plant and associated components. In March 2023 it was confirmed that Rolls-Royce Submarines would provide all the nuclear reactor plants that will support the next generation of nuclear-powered submarines as part of the tri-lateral security agreement between Australia, the UK and US¹.
Joe St. Julian, President, Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis said: “The design and build of nuclear-powered submarines involves highly complex platform requirements and safety standards as well as extensive knowledge of maritime infrastructure and submarine facilities. Alongside our nuclear fuel management knowledge, AtkinsRéalis will bring significant experience to the program through our expertise in maritime and complex defense infrastructure as well as designing civil nuclear at scale.
“Our appointment builds on our long-standing relationships with Rolls-Royce and within the UK defense sector and we look forward to bringing the best of our defense nuclear capabilities in support of this internationally significant program.”
AtkinsRéalis is providing design and engineering services to the new GW-scale nuclear build program at Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, as well as working on operations, maintenance, decommissioning and nuclear waste management at nuclear sites across the UK.
Through its global defense market, AtkinsRéalis supports critical defence programs to strengthen national security, from infrastructure design and complex program delivery to strengthening cyber resilience in the face of evolving threats. In the UK, AtkinsRéalis has supported the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in major programs across the land, maritime, air and joint environments and is one of three firms jointly appointed as Engineering Delivery Partners to the MoD’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) function.