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Learning from Experience

Volume III: Lessons from the United Kingdom's Astute Submarine Program

by John F. Schank, Frank W. Lacroix, Robert Murphy, Cesse Cameron Ip, Mark V. Arena, Gordon T. Lee

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Large, complex submarine design and construction programs demand personnel with unique skills and capabilities supplemented with practical experiences in their areas of expertise. Recognizing the importance of past experiences for successful program management, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MOD) asked the RAND Corporation to develop a set of lessons learned from its Astute submarine program that could help inform future program managers. RAND reviewed the history of UK nuclear submarines, investigated how operational requirements were set for the Astute class; explored the acquisition, contracting, design, and build processes that the Astute program employed; and assessed the plans and activities surrounding integrated logistics support for the Astute. The impact of the substantial time gap between the design and build of the Astute and its predecessor nuclear submarines was greatly underestimated by the private sector and the MOD, and both parties underestimated the impact of the MOD's decision to shift responsibilities to the private sector. Designing and building a submarine requires careful management and oversight and a delegation of roles and responsibilities that recognizes which party — the shipbuilder or the government — is best positioned to manage risks.

Table of Contents

  • Chapter One

    Introduction

  • Chapter Two

    History of British Submarine Programs

  • Chapter Three

    Setting the Requirements

  • Chapter Four

    Acquisition and Contracting Strategy

  • Chapter Five

    Designing and Building the Astute

  • Chapter Six

    Integrated Logistics Support

  • Chapter Seven

    Lessons Identified from the Astute Program

Research conducted by

The research described in this report was prepared for the United States Navy, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence, and Australia's Department of Defence. The research was conducted within the RAND National Defense Research Institute, a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Unified Combatant Commands, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the defense agencies, and the defense Intelligence Community.

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