https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... te_AOA.pdf
The remaining four boats (AUDACIOUS, ANSON, AGAMEMNON and AGINCOURT) are at varying stages of completion, with final delivery expected by November 2026. The Astute programme is being procured through single source contracts and are being built at the lead suppliers’ shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.
An Astute Whole Programme Approval was secured in March 2018, which allowed for an Operational Handover date for AUDACIOUS of August 2019. This Accounting Officer Assessment is necessary because this date has been breached, following emergent technical issues within the build programme. The emergent issues have required unplanned repair and rework to facilitate the submarine proceeding forward with the normal commissioning process. The Operational handover for AUDACIOUS is now planned for January 2021.
The delays to the build have not currently caused the programme to overrun in cost terms given that the financial approval is at the programme level (rather than by individual boat) and includes contingency. However, there has been a knock-on schedule delay to ANSON and further schedule challenges with the remaining build. Consequently, the level of schedule risk provision is being reviewed and, longer term, it may be necessary to seek to increase this.