Submarine Delivery Agency - Public Body Review summary 2025
Published 15 July 2025
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The Ministry of Defence has undertaken a review of the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), as part of the Cabinet Office’s Public Bodies Reviews Programme. It started in April 2024 and concluded in March 2025.
SDA background
Formed in 2018 by virtue of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the SDA is an Executive Agency sponsored by Chief of Defence Nuclear. The primary purpose and strategy of the SDA is to be the delivery agent for submarines. Their work spans the full lifecycle of a submarine from design and manufacture to in-service support and ultimately disposal.
Review purpose
The review aimed to ensure that the SDA is:
- Delivering with a clear purpose which remains relevant and is appropriately classified to be operationally effective.
- Resilient and efficient, as well as ensuring its strategy and outputs are aligned to MOD and wider government priorities.
- Well governed and properly accountable for what it does.
Conclusions and recommendations
The review concluded that the SDA is making strong progress in terms of its efficacy and accountability arrangements, remaining a key part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise and supporting the delivery of the Continuous at Sea Deterrent. Evidence was also consistent that the SDA is well run across leadership, strategy and people management.
A total of five recommendations were identified to improve the governance and assurance arrangements of the SDA. The recommendations aim to ensure that the SDA and MOD continue to maintain a strong sponsorship arrangement.
This stage 1 exercise did not indicate the need for a full-scale stage 3 review of the SDA at this time.
Governance improvements:
1. Embed a centralised approach to assurance activity across the SDA.
2. Increase collaboration and data usage across the SDA control environment.
3. Mature the SDA control framework in line with best practice.
4. Strengthen SDA control environment governance systems.
5. Improve the guidance and support available to teams during internal audits.