Trumpeter Ship Models 1/144 HMS Astute British Submarine Kit

The ASTUTE class submarine is the latest in the British Royal Navy fleet and was first launched in 2007. This huge submarine has an appearance similar to a whale and is nuclear-powered, not requiring a single refuel over its 25 year lifetime, although it is not unique in this regard. The ASTUTE class submarine is built by BAE Systems Maritime in Barrow-in-Furness on the north-west coast of Britain.

The submarines cost about $2.4 billion US Dollars (USD) each. The ASTUTE class consists of attack submarines, in contrast to the ballistic missile submarines of the VANGUARD class.