Just how many Reactor Subs - who knows - you won't know 'til the year after next

Posted: 26th September 2026

Labour delays ordering new attack submarines. Government accused of ‘kicking the can’ after putting off decision on building subs to 2028.
Labour has delayed ordering new attack submarines until 2028, The Telegraph can reveal. Sir Keir Starmer pledged last year to build “up to 12” nuclear-powered submarines. He said Labour would decide how many vessels to commission by the time its defence investment plan
(DIP) was published. Despite finally releasing the delayed DIP in June, the Government has deferred its deadline for committing to buying the subs until 2028, The Telegraph has learnt. Wes Streeting, the Defence Secretary, wrote to James Cartlidge, his Conservative
shadow: “The DIP clearly sets out our intention to buy up to 12 SSN-A submarines, but a decision on exact hull numbers does not need to be taken at this stage. “The programme is currently midway through its design phase and we anticipate that the number of submarines will be confirmed before the end of this phase in 2028.”

Telegraph 12th Sept 2026
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/09/12/labour-delays-buying-new-attack-submarines/