The astute class submarine, designed and built by BAE Systems in Barrow, is the largest most advanced and most formidable vessel of its kind ever operated by the Royal Navy. Displacing over 7,000 tonnes and measuring almost 100 metres, the Astute class boat is capable of circumnavigating the globe without surfacing and with the advance of nuclear technology she will never need refuelling. The advanced manufacture also incorporates the latest stealth technology.