KING CHARLES WELCOMES HMS AGAMEMNON – Royal event highlights UK’s nuclear strength and deterrent role
King Charles III formally welcomed HMS Agamemnon into operational service at a ceremony in Barrow-in-Furness, affirming the vessel’s role in the UK’s nuclear submarine fleet.
The event saw the King read the Commissioning Warrant at the BAE Systems shipyard, surrounded by shipbuilders, crew members, and defence officials. Agamemnon, the sixth of seven Astute-class attack submarines, has been in construction for more than a decade and draws on Barrow’s long heritage of submarine construction.
HMS Agamemnon displaces about 7,400 tonnes and spans 97 metres in length, nicknamed “Awesome Aggie” by those involved in its creation. It is designed to protect the nation’s strategic interests, contributing to the continuous nuclear deterrent, carrier strike groups, and safeguarding undersea critical infrastructure. The vessel is equipped with Tomahawk land-attack missiles capable of reaching approximately 1,000 miles, Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, and advanced sensors for intelligence operations.
Beyond military capability, the commissioning marks a significant boost to UK defence industry jobs: Barrow’s workforce has grown, with more apprenticeships and skilled roles created under government investment. The Ministry of Defence highlighted the submarine programme as a keystone of Britain’s defence industrial strategy. As the UK presses forward with its “triple-lock” deterrent policy, Agamemnon’s entry into service reinforces national security priorities.
