UK defence industry: New nuclear warhead programme announced

Image of HMS Vengeance returning to HMNB Clyde, after completing Operational Sea Training
Image of HMS Vengeance returning to HMNB Clyde, after completing Operational Sea Training

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has announced a programme to replace the UK’s nuclear warheads for its missile submarines.


In a ministerial statement to Parliament, Mr Wallace said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is working on a new warhead to equip its missile-armed nuclear submarine fleet, Trident.

“Our independent nuclear deterrent is essential to defend the UK and our North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies against the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life… To ensure the government maintains an effective deterrent throughout the commission of the Dreadnought Class ballistic missile submarine we are replacing our existing nuclear warhead to respond to future threats and the security environment.

The MoD’s Defence Nuclear Organisation is working with the Atomic Weapons Establishment to build the highly skilled teams and put in place the facilities and capabilities needed to deliver the replacement warhead, whilst also sustaining the current warhead until it is withdrawn from service.

Related: £400m nuclear submarine funding to safeguard Barrow-in-Furness jobs


The Parliament statement said the Government will continue to work closely with the US to ensure its warhead remains compatible with the Trident Strategic Weapon System.

Delivery of the replacement warhead will be subject to the government’s major programme approvals and oversight.

The MoD says it will continue to provide updates through the annual report to Parliament on the UK’s future nuclear deterrent.

Yesterday’s announcement was not meant to be made prior to a defence review scheduled for later in the year. The Government made the announcement after US officials revealed last week the nuclear programme was already up and running.

“The decision is basically a forgone conclusion, but the announcement has come sooner than expected. We were looking at probably next year but certainly not before the defence and security review due for release towards the end of the year,” said David Cullen, the director at the UK based Nuclear Information Service, a non-profit organisation promoting nuclear weapons awareness and debate.

“It’s wonderful that the UK is working on a new warhead at the same time, and I think we will have discussions and be able to share technologies,” said Alan Shaffer, the Pentagon’s deputy undersecretary of defence for acquisition and sustainment. His comments were made to an audience at the Nuclear Deterrence Summit, hosted in Washington by ExchangeMonitor.

The video above shows the Submarine Academy for Skills and Knowledge at the BAE Systems Barrow-in-Furness site in Cumbria, which will provide around 2,500 people a month (including 600 apprentices from across industry and the Ministry of Defence) with skills and training to benefit the work carried out on the Dreadnought and Astute submarine programmes.

MoD www.gov.uk/mod

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