Astute class
Fuel enrichment
Highly enriched
HEU
Astute class is a nuclear-powered submarine operated by Royal Navy, powered by PWR2 of about 145 MWt. Operating.
All UK submarine reactors use highly enriched fuel obtained from the United States, a dependency that is rarely discussed and is one of the most consequential features of the UK deterrent.
Propulsion
| Reactor | PWR2 |
|---|---|
| Reactors per vessel | 1 |
| Thermal output | 145MWt |
| Fuel enrichment | Highly enrichedHEU |
| Refuelling | Core H requires no refuelling over roughly 25 years |
Vessel
| Category | submarine |
|---|---|
| Role | SSN |
| Operator | Royal Navy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Vessels in class | not stated |
| In service from | 2010 |
| Status | Operating |
Other submarines
| Class | Enrichment | Status |
|---|---|---|
| AUKUS submarines | HEU | Planned |
| Akula class | - | Operating |
| Alfa class | HEU | Retired |
| Arihant class | HEU | Operating |
| Borei class | HALEU | Operating |
| Columbia class | HEU | Under construction |
| Dreadnought class | HEU | Under construction |
| Han class (Type 091) | - | Operating |
| Le Triomphant class | LEU | Operating |
| Los Angeles class | HEU | Operating |
| Ohio class | HEU | Operating |
| Oscar II class | - | Operating |
| Seawolf class | HEU | Operating |
| Suffren class (Barracuda) | LEU | Operating |
| Type 093 and 094 (Shang and Jin) | LEU | Operating |
| Typhoon class | - | Retired |
| USS Nautilus | HEU | Retired |
| Vanguard class | - | Operating |
| Virginia class | HEU | Operating |
| Xia class (Type 092) | - | Retired |
| Yasen class | HALEU | Operating |
Sources
- World Nuclear Association, Nuclear-Powered Ships · retrieved 2026-09-07
How these sources are used, including the corrections applied on top of them and what is deliberately left blank · download the underlying data