Britain said on Friday it had awarded Rolls-Royce a 9 billion pound ($11 billion) eight-year contract to design, make and support the nuclear reactors that power its fleet of submarines, amid U.S. calls for higher defence spending.

Labour has put growing the U.K. economy at the forefront of its plans since returning to power in July—but has yet to deliver on its pledge.

Rolls-Royce will manufacture nuclear reactors to power new U.K. submarines under a contract valued approximately at $11.1 billion.