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Britain developing new, sovereign nuclear warhead (ukdefencejournal.org.uk)

submitted 8 months ago by Emperor to c/unitedkingdom

11 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The United Kingdom has confirmed that it is developing a replacement UK sovereign nuclear warhead for its Trident missiles. The Ministry of Defence says in the ‘Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper’ that “Replacing the UK’s warhead will ensure the UK’s deterrent remains cutting-edge, safe and effective”.

In the paper released today, they state:

“The UK committed to replacing our sovereign warhead in parliament in February 2021. Using modern and innovative developments in science, engineering, manufacturing and production at AWE, we will ensure the UK maintains an effective deterrent for as long as required.

The Replacement Warhead Programme has been designated the A21/Mk7 (also known as Astraea). It is being delivered in parallel with the US W93/Mk7 warhead and each nation is developing a sovereign design. This will be the first UK warhead developed in an era where we no longer test our weapons underground, upholding our voluntary moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions.

...

For those unaware, the Trident II D5 missile is manufactured in the US. It comprises the missiles and supporting systems fitted on the submarine as well as training and shore support equipment.

Under the agreement with the United States, the UK accesses a shared missile pool. Missiles are loaded into our submarines in Kings Bay, Georgia, US. The UK-manufactured warheads are mated to the missiles at HMNB Clyde.

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[–] kralk@lemm.ee 11 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Ok I looked it up https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_on_the_Non-Proliferation_of_Nuclear_Weapons

We signed an agreement to disarm in 1952. This is another international treaty the UK is breaking.

[–] AlpacaChariot@lemmy.world 7 points 8 months ago

It's really an agreement to work towards disarmament, not to just unilaterally disarm regardless of what everyone else is doing.

Article VI: Each party "undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a Treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control".

I can't see how for example Russia could be disarmed under strict and effective international control in the current climate.

We're not increasing the number of our warheads in service, just replacing old ones with a new design.

[–] Tweak 6 points 8 months ago

No they haven't. Did you even read what that treaty is about? Countries that already have nuclear weapons get to keep having nuclear weapons, and countries that don't have nuclear weapons will agree not to develop them in exchange for receiving peaceful nuclear technology. Aside from that, countries must "pursue" disarmament, but the treaty does not actually require it to happen.

Given the recent stirrings of Russia, and our proximity to their main path to the Atlantic (where most of the world's undersea internet fibres are), disarming would be incredibly foolish.