The key to all aspects of submarine operations is to operate without the knowledge of the enemy or neutral forces; the Submarine Service has a proud culture of being a silent menace and it has never been truer than in Astute.

Astute’s propulsion system has been made even quieter through the use of revolutionary design and manufacturing techniques and materials. With rafted sections throughout the boat Astute’s machinery noise is not passed out into the environment around the vessel and crew noise is isolated from the outer hull. New designs of coatings, tiles and paints have been deployed to stop the submarine reflecting enemy sonar. Although deployable for extended periods, Astute is fitted with the very latest systems to convert waste products into substances that cannot be detected in her wake.

Combined, all of these attributes mean that the enemy will be unable to detect Astute’s presence, even when operating in close proximity to their sensors. It therefore allows the crew to operate undetected and remain at the front line of naval operations for longer periods of time.