Dauntless and Astute on sea trials in the firth of Clyde.

13:49 GMT, March 19, 2010 Glasgow, United Kingdom | Two of the most advanced naval vessels in the world met for the first time this week, as Dauntless, the second of the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers, and Astute, the first of class Astute nuclear powered attack submarine, combined on sea trials in the firth of Clyde.

Astute is the most advanced attack submarine ever supplied to the Royal Navy, incorporating the latest stealth technology combined with a world class sonar system, an improved capability for world-wide operations, much greater firepower, better communications and crew accommodation than in-service submarines.

Astute is designed to fulfil a range of key strategic and tactical roles including anti-ship and anti-submarine operations, surveillance and intelligence gathering and support for land forces. Displacing 7,400 tonnes and measuring 97 metres from bow to propulsor, Astute is significantly larger than the Swiftsure and Trafalgar class submarines that she will replace but requires fewer crew to operate her due to the advanced technology and automated systems on board.

The Type 45 anti-air warfare destroyers are the most advanced ships of their kind in the world today. With a primary role to defend a task force from any aerial attack, they are extremely flexible and can provide a wide range of capability ranging from humanitarian relief through to intense war fighting.

Dauntless was handed over to the Ministry of Defence by BAE Systems in December 2009 and will be commissioned into the Royal Navy fleet later this year. Astute arrived at her operational base of Faslane Naval Base on the Clyde from BAE Systems’ Barrow yard in November 2009 and is currently undergoing sea trials ahead of her acceptance into service.