HMS Victorious, built in Barrow, will return to the Royal Navy after a £560m life extension programme. 

Vanguard-class nuclear submarine HMS Victorious was launched in 1993. She is one of the vessels that can carry the UK's nuclear deterrent as part of the UK military's longest operation - Operation Relentless. 

The submarine arrived in Plymouth last year to prepare for a programme that will enable her to continue operational patrols in the 2030s. Work on the vessel is already underway. 

Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Martin Connell said: “The Royal Navy performs no more important mission than Operation Relentless, the continuous at sea strategic deterrent patrols which have been performed by our submariners uninterrupted since 1969.

“The mission requires an unprecedented national effort in support, maintaining our Vanguard-class submarines to the very highest engineering standards.
“The overhaul of HMS Victorious will allow the boat to carry out deterrent patrols until the next generation of submarines, the Dreadnought-class, enter service.”

The Vanguard fleet will be replaced by the Dreadnought-class submarines from the early 2030s.