King Charles Commissions UK's Newest Nuclear Submarine HMS Agamemnon

King Charles III officially commissioned HMS Agamemnon, the Royal Navy's sixth Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, at a ceremony held at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness. The 7,400-tonne, 97-meter-long submarine, nicknamed "Awesome Aggie," is equipped with advanced sensors, can strike land targets up to 1,000 miles away, support Royal Marines Commandos raids, and safeguard the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent, carrier strike groups, and undersea infrastructure. The commissioning event was attended by around 500 guests, including senior politicians, naval leaders, industry executives, and crew families, with speeches highlighting the submarine's cutting-edge capabilities and the long history of Barrow as the UK's submarine construction hub. Concurrently, Defence Secretary John Healey initiated the construction of HMS King George VI, the fourth Dreadnought-class submarine, which will replace the Vanguard-class and maintain the UK's continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent into the 2060s. This milestone underscores the UK's commitment to modernizing its naval defense amid evolving global threats, with the Agamemnon set to join its sister submarines at HM Naval Base Clyde following further sea trials. King Charles also honored Barrow with royal port status, recognizing its 120-year legacy in submarine manufacturing.