LONDON, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Britain's ministry of defence saidon Saturday that construction work will begin on the country'snew nuclear submarines, announcing nearly 1.3 billion pounds($1.7 billion) of new investment with defence firm BAE Systems.
Lawmakers backed renewing Britain's ageing nuclear weaponssystem earlier this year, a multi-billion pound project regardedas key to maintaining the country's status as a world powerfollowing its vote to leave the European Union.
"The investment will support delivery of the Government'scommitment to retain the Trident-based continuous at seadeterrent - the ultimate guarantee of our safety - and build thenew fleet of four Successor Ballistic Missile submarines," thedefence ministry said in a statement.
BAE Systems said the first new submarine will enter servicein the early 2030s. ($1 = 0.7705 pounds) (Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Alexander Smith)