Trumpeter - HMS Astute 1:144

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.