Britain’s Telegraph newspaper has called the $1.88-billion HMS Astute ‘the world’s most advanced nuclear submarine’. Unfortunately, an Astute ran aground off the northwest Scottish coast in 2010, and had to rely on tug boats to haul it into deeper water, along with a rising tide. While the Astute does not carry nuclear warheads, the hull is comprised of acoustic tiles that render it ‘virtually undetectable’ underwater, according to Andy Coles, its commander. But even if the design and development of Britain’s first three Astute-class submarines carry an impressive price tag ($6.1 billion), running aground ‘for unknown reasons’ does not inspire confidence.

Across the Atlantic, the SSN-774 class, also known as a Virginia class nuclear attack submarine, is more deserving of the accolade. The SSN-774 is 115 metres long, ten metres wide, and weighs a gargantuan 7 900 metric tons. Capable of moving at a brisk 46km/h, the Virginia class bristles with armaments, including 12 Tomahawk cruise missiles, and four torpedo tubes for 38 torpedoes and missiles. The 774, which carries a 134-man crew, has a modest maximum diving depth of just 240 metres. Commissioned in late 2004, the SSN-774 costs $3 billion.