# Britain's submarine order slips to 2028 > Labour promised to say how many attack submarines it would buy. Now that answer waits until 2028. - Title: Britain's submarine order slips to 2028 · Dailymail | Shortify - Summary: Labour promised to say how many attack submarines it would buy. Now that answer waits until 2028. The government still says "up to 12" submarines, but no… - Keywords: defence, royal navy, aukus, uk politics, nato, news, entertainment, Britain's, submarine, order, slips, 2028 - Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16127723/labour-delays-nuclear-submarine-decision-2028.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss - Published: 2026-09-13T14:48:41+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: defence, royal navy, aukus, uk politics, nato, news, entertainment ## No order until 2028 Labour will not order any new nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Navy until 2028, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has admitted. ## The promise that slipped Keir Starmer said last year that Labour would settle how many submarines to commission by the time the Defence Investment Plan was published. ## The plan came out empty The Defence Investment Plan was released on 30 June. It did not name a number, and the commitment to buy has now been pushed to 2028. ## Up to 12, announced in 2025 In June 2025 Starmer announced that "up to 12" new submarines would replace the Royal Navy's Astute-class attack boats. > up to 12 ## British design, American help The next-generation attack submarines use a British design with technological contributions from the US under the AUKUS agreement. ## What SSN-AUKUS carries The vessels get a Rolls-Royce PWR3-derived reactor, better stealth and sensors, plus a vertical launch missile system. ## Streeting's letter Writing to shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge, Streeting said the intention to buy up to 12 stands, but exact hull numbers can wait. > a decision on exact hull numbers does not need to be taken at this stage ## Still in design phase Streeting said the programme is midway through design, and the number will be confirmed before that phase ends in 2028. > we anticipate that the number of submarines will be confirmed before the end of this phase in 2028 ## One every 18 months From the mid-2030s a new submarine would be delivered every 18 months, Streeting said, insisting the delay changes nothing about entry into service. ## The Ferrari jibe Cartlidge said wanting 12 of something means nothing without the money to pay for it, and called the whole thing a shambles. > I could say I want to buy up to 12 Ferraris but if I don't have the money, I won't get any ## The DIP told us nothing Cartlidge said the actual number was meant to land in the Defence Investment Plan, which arrived months late and left the question open. > this was months late and left us none the wiser ## The other four boats The Navy's four Vanguard-class submarines do a different job and are being replaced by four Dreadnought-class vessels, the first due in the 2030s. ## MoD holds the line A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the commitment to up to 12 attack submarines is unchanged and the delivery schedule is untouched. > A decision on exact numbers does not need to be taken at this stage, with no impact on the delivery schedule ## Guns versus benefits The row widened after Andy Burnham said he would never put defence spending ahead of benefits, earning Labour the "Welfare Party" label. ## Security cannot cost social security Burnham said he was serious about national security but would not let it eat the welfare budget, arguing resilient communities are part of defence. > We do everything to support our national security, but it cannot come at the expense of social security ## Badenoch's £10billion plan Kemi Badenoch set out £10billion to lift defence to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030, including £8billion of welfare cuts, half from housing benefit reform. ## Three per cent, refused Burnham would not commit to the 3 per cent target, even though his own Chancellor John Healey calls it the minimum needed to keep Britain safe. ## A split in the cabinet Streeting said in June that there is no social justice without national security, a line that sits awkwardly beside Burnham's refusal to choose. > there is no social justice without national security ## Thirteenth in Nato After decades near the top, Britain now ranks 13th in Nato for defence spending as a share of GDP while rivals build up. ## 2.7 against 4.7 Labour's plans nudge spending from 2.6 per cent next year to 2.7 by 2030. Germany expects 3.5 per cent, and Poland already spends 4.7. ## Key takeaway The government still says "up to 12" submarines, but no firm number, no firm money, and no answer until 2028.