DREADNOUGHT
MOD · MOD_0080_1213-Q1
Department page: Ministry of Defence
| Data as at | Rating | End date | Whole-life cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2024 | Amber (NISTA's independent assessment) | Exempt under Section 24 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (National security) | £36,706m (price basis not stated) |
| March 2025 | Section 24 - National security, Section 26 - Defence | Section 24 - National security, Section 26 - Defence | Section 24 - National security, Section 26 - Defence |
| March 2026 | Exempt under Section 24 - National security | Exempt under Section 24 - National security | Exempt under Section 43 - Commercial interests |
Each year’s cost is shown with its price basis. Costs are not compared between years: the March 2024 and March 2025 reports state no price basis, and from March 2026 costs are in 2024/25 prices.
The department’s commentary
This is the department’s own commentary. It may use different prices from the table above, so its figures may not match.
March 2026
Rating: Exempt under Section 24 - National security
Schedule: Exempt under Section 24 - National security
Cost: Exempt under Section 43 - Commercial interests
March 2025
Rating: Section 24 - National security, Section 26 - Defence
Schedule: Section 24 - National security, Section 26 - Defence
Cost: Section 24 - National security, Section 26 - Defence
Source: NISTA Annual Report 2024-25 (data)
March 2024
Rating: Compared to financial year 22/23-Q4, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority's Delivery Confidence Assessment rating at 23/24-Q4 remained at Amber. This is primarily due to the following factors. The Dreadnought submarine programme remains on track for the First of Class HMS Dreadnought to enter service in the early 2030s. Staged investments have delivered good progress on the whole boat design, production and supporting infrastructure development. However it should be recognised for a programme of this complexity, scale and duration, there is real risk, not least from interfacing programmes of work, and it is therefore appropriate to assess as Amber in Delivery Confidence.
Schedule: The Dreadnought submarine programme remains on track for the first of Class, HMS Dreadnought, to enter service in the early 2030s.
Cost: Compared to financial year 22/23-Q4, the project's departmental-agree Whole Life Cost at 23/24-Q4 increased from 33989m to 36706m. This is primarily due to the following factors. Inflation costs increases.
Source: IPA Annual Report 2023-24 (data)
Names, figures, dates, ratings and commentary are as the department reported them. Where a rating, cost or date is withheld, the file’s wording is shown. Every major project →