BARROW-IN-FURNESS, England, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The buildingof four new nuclear submarines for the Royal Navy began onWednesday, part of a multi-billion pound update of Britain'sdefence programme providing thousands of jobs.
Defence Minister Michael Fallon attended a steel-cuttingceremony at BAE Systems in the northern English town ofBarrow-in-Furness to mark the start of manufacturing on the"Successor" models, an update of Britain's nuclear deterrent.
They replace the current "Vanguard" models and will carryTrident nuclear missiles.
Lawmakers backed renewing Britain's ageing nuclear weaponssystem earlier this year, a step many regard as key tomaintaining the country's status as a world power following itsvote in June to leave the European Union.
The Successor programme already employs more than 2,600people, including 1,800 at BAE Systems, the defence companysaid. At its peak, in the early 2020s, BAE anticipates employingmore than 5,000 people on the programme throughout the supplychain.
The first submarine is due to enter service in the early2030s. (Reporting by Phil Noble; Writing by Elisabeth O'Leary; editingby Stephen Addison)