Rolls-Royce taps AtkinsRéalis for nuclear propulsion support for UK submarines

December 8, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

Global engineering services and nuclear company AtkinsRéalis Group has been appointed to deliver nuclear propulsion and engineering capabilities to Rolls-Royce Submarines, supporting the UK’s growing submarine program.

Under this framework agreement, AtkinsRéalis will work alongside Frazer-Nash and Assystem to provide Rolls-Royce Submarines with the collective engineering knowledge, nuclear capabilities, and other professional services required to meet growing demand from the UK Ministry of Defense.

Specifically, the company will provide specialist support in nuclear propulsion systems, safety assurance, systems engineering, and program delivery, alongside consulting, environmental services, asset management, cyber resilience, digital solutions, and reactor design and substantiation.

The framework has a total value of up to £400 million over five years, with the option to extend for a further two years.

“Global defence investment is accelerating as nations seek to reinforce security and resilience,” said Ian L. Edwards , President and CEO of AtkinsRéalis.

“This partnership with Rolls-Royce Submarines reflects our ability to deliver highly specialized capabilities that are critical to the safe and effective operation of future submarine fleets and wider defence programs.”

“Our position in this new strategic partnership builds on 27 years working with Rolls-Royce Submarines on their defence programs and our end-to-end experience in nuclear lifecycle management. Together with our industry partners, we will help ensure the UK’s submarine enterprise remains robust, agile, and ready to meet evolving defence needs,” said Joe St. Julian, President, Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis.

Rolls-Royce Submarines is currently supporting the existing Astute and Dreadnought boat build programs through the delivery of reactor plant and associated components.

In March 2023, it was confirmed that Rolls-Royce Submarines would provide all the nuclear reactor plants that will support the next generation of nuclear-powered submarines as part of the trilateral AUKUS agreement between Australia, the UK and the US.