Rolls-Royce has secured a substantial £9 billion ($11 billion) contract from the UK government to design, produce, and provide ongoing support for nuclear reactors powering the nation’s submarine fleet.

This eight-year contract, titled Unity, is intended to reinforce the Royal Navy’s continuous at-sea deterrent, ensuring that at least one nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine is always on patrol.

It also supports the AUKUS defense alliance between the UK, the United States, and Australia.

The Unity contract merges previous agreements and incorporates strategies for cost-efficient production, concentrating on the Dreadnought class of nuclear submarines.

Defence Secretary John Healey stated the deal is anticipated to boost British businesses, create 1,000 new jobs, and protect 4,000 current positions.

Healey highlighted that the investment would strengthen national security while supporting high-skilled UK jobs. The contract will also enhance the long-term capacities of the British defense sector, especially in nuclear reactor technology, with Rolls-Royce’s facility in Derby, central England, being central to its execution.