THE submarines of tomorrow are under construction behind the gates of Barrow's shipyard.

BAE is working on three separate programmes to provide the next generation of nuclear submarines to the Royal Navy.

Six Astute class attack submarines have already been completed at the site, with a seventh currently being worked on.

The boats have been described as the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy.

Among the Astute class’s formidable arsenal of weapons is the Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missile, which allows the submarines to strike at ground targets hundreds of miles inland with pinpoint accuracy.

Also onboard the Astute class of submarines is the lethal Spearfish torpedo.

Weighing nearly two tonnes, this  torpedo can attack targets up to 14 miles away and is said to be capable of blowing an enemy submarine clean out of the water.

Meanwhile, staff in Barrow are also busy producing four Dreadnought submarines, forming the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent.

(Image: BAE)

BAE Systems celebrated the start of construction of the third Dreadnought class submarine with a steel-cutting ceremony at the shipyard last year

 Warspite is the third boat in the class, which will replace ageing Vanguard submarines.

The Navy say the new generation of submarines are the 'epitome of naval engineering' and offer the UK 'unrivalled strength and security'.

Dreadnought Class submarines will be capable of launching Trident 2 D5 missiles.

The new submarines will each have three missile compartments, and each compartment will comprise of four missile tubes and five deck levels, for a total of 12 missiles.

Dreadnought Class submarines will also feature four 533mm torpedo tubes for Spearfish heavyweight medium-range torpedoes.

The early phases of work to build submarines as part of the AUKUS partnership are also under way. 

Britain is due to build submarines as part of the partnership, while Australia will eventually build its own using British designs.

BAE's working is expanding significantly as it tackles the three programmes.