Advanced British submarine HMS Artful to undergo sea trials

Britain's most technically advanced submarine - boasting the world's biggest ears - is to undergo sea trials this summer, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced Friday.

Fallon visited the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness in Northern England to inspect HMS Artful as she prepares for sea trials this summer.

She will enter service with the Royal Navy before the end of this year, operating from Her Majesty's Naval base on the Clyde in Scotland.

Artful, like her namesake the Artful Dodger in Charles Dicken's Oliver Twist, the submarine has the ability to operate covertly and remain undetectable in almost all circumstances.

She can also circumvent the globe completely submerged and is fitted with hydrophone technology, giving the Royal Navy it's biggest pair of ears among any current sonar systems available.

A ministry of defence spokesman said the nuclear powered submarine will be the most advanced and powerful Britain has ever sent to sea.

It can even create oxygen for the crew and drinking water from processing sea water. And the traditional submarine periscope to peep above water level is replaced with a sophisticated video system using fibre optics.

Her Tomahawk cruise missiles are capable of hitting a target almost 2,000 km away with pinpoint accuracy.

Around 465 million U.S. dollars has been spent upgrading the shipyard to construct a fleet of seven of the same class submarines.

During his visit to the yard Fallon said: "this program is part of a 163-billion-pound (253 billion U.S. dollars) plan to ensure our armed forces have the equipment they need."

MOD director of submarines, Rear Admiral Mike Wareham said: "HMS Artful is amongst the most advanced submarines operating in the world today."

The 7,400 tonne vessel, with a crew of 100, is the length of 10 London buses. Around 3,700 shipyard workers are employed building the submarines.