HMS Artful - one of the biggest and most powerful attack submarines ever procured by the Royal Navy.
First of class HMS Astute is expected to enter service in 2009.
Astute-class submarines will displace 7,800 tonnes dived and are 97 metres long. They will have six weapons tubes and massively increased firepower compared with earlier attack submarines. They can dive to depths in excess of 300 metres and will have a complement of 98 men. They are to be powered by a Pressurised Water Reactor 2, equipped with Core H, which will fuel the reactor for the submarine's full service life, ending the need for costly reactor refuellings.
HMS Astute, HMS Ambush and HMS Artful are the names that the submarines will be given.
