WATCH: The Royal Navy rolls out its new sub - and she's almost as long as a football pitch

A new Royal Navy nuclear submarine capable of firing Tomahawk missiles 1,000km has been rolled out of its dockyard to undergo preliminary tests.

By The Newsroom

Published 28th Apr 2017, 13:10 BST

Updated 9th May 2017, 18:37 BST

The new fourth Astute-class nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Audacious, outside its indoor ship building complex at BAE Systems, Burrow-in-Furness.
Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire — The new fourth Astute-class nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Audacious, outside its indoor ship building complex at BAE Systems, Burrow-in-Furness. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

The 97-metre long attack sub HMS Audacious was edged from Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, ahead of sea trials expected to take place next year.

The 7,400-tonne BAE Systems-built vessel is the fourth of seven Astute class submarines and is armed with Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk land attack missiles.

They were designed to be able to strike at targets up to 1,000km from the coast and are equipped with the latest sonar capability and powered by a nuclear reactor.

Three more Astute class submarines are at different stages in the building process in Barrow.