UK Considers Nuclear-Powered Warships

The UK Royal Navy is exploring the possibility of building nuclear-powered surface warships, as part of a long-term plan to enhance its fleet.

This initiative comes after the Navy requested the defense industry to investigate how nuclear power can be utilized for its surface vessels.

Currently, in the UK, only submarines are powered by nuclear energy. However, the Ministry of Defence has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather updates on advanced nuclear technology, particularly the use of fourth-generation nuclear reactors.

These reactors, including larger models and micro-modular reactors, could potentially be used to power the Navy's surface fleet in the future.

Several nations already operate nuclear-powered surface ships. The United States, for instance, has a number of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, such as the Nimitz and Gerald R. Ford classes. France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier also uses nuclear propulsion.

The UK Royal Navy currently operates two aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, which cost £3 billion each.

These vessels, commissioned in 2017, are powered by gas and diesel engines. Both ships have faced technical issues since their launch.

HMS Queen Elizabeth had to withdraw from NATO’s largest exercise since the Cold War in February due to a propeller shaft issue. 

Similarly, in 2022, HMS Prince of Wales had to pull out of joint exercises with the US Navy after a breakdown near the Isle of Wight.