Trident (UK nuclear programme)

Trident, also known as the Trident nuclear programme or Trident nuclear deterrent, covers the development, procurement and operation of submarine-based <a href="/facts/Nuclear_weapons_and_the_United_Kingdom/lK8jPFP1">nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom</a> and their means of delivery. Its purpose as stated by the <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_Defence_(United_Kingdom)/9TG9a0ss">Ministry of Defence</a> is to "deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, which cannot be done by other means". Trident is an operational system of four <a href="/facts/Vanguard-class_submarine/MwwlkmFU">Vanguard-class</a> <a href="/facts/Submarine/6fhcAKHV">submarines</a> armed with <a href="/facts/UGM-133_Trident_II/1TkWo3KJ">Trident II D-5</a> <a href="/facts/Submarine-launched_ballistic_missile/AypqGmQ9">ballistic missiles</a>, able to deliver <a href="/facts/Thermonuclear_weapon/T9zFe3H0">thermonuclear warheads</a> from <a href="/facts/Multiple_independently_targetable_re-entry_vehicle/cmzWwXxy">multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles</a> (MIRVs). It is operated by the <a href="/facts/Royal_Navy/Xdy8YCH7">Royal Navy</a> and based at <a href="/facts/HMNB_Clyde/LoY4I9kD">Clyde Naval Base</a> on the west coast of Scotland. At least one submarine is always on patrol to provide a continuous at-sea capability. The missiles are manufactured in the United States, while the warheads are British.
The British government initially negotiated with the <a href="/facts/Carter_administration/1qnkgxGJ">Carter administration</a> for the purchase of the <a href="/facts/UGM-96_Trident_I/1NFrTGYx">Trident I C-4</a> missile. In 1981, the <a href="/facts/Reagan_administration/8kKVR2pA">Reagan administration</a> announced its decision to upgrade its Trident to the new Trident II D-5 missile. This necessitated another round of negotiations and concessions. The UK Trident programme was announced in July 1980 and patrols began in December 1994. Trident replaced the submarine-based <a href="/facts/Polaris_(UK_nuclear_programme)/MXCFyE66">Polaris</a> system, in operation from 1968 until 1996. Trident is the only nuclear weapon system operated by the UK since the decommissioning of tactical <a href="/facts/WE.177/Cdn5Qonw">WE.177</a> free-fall bombs in 1998.
<a href="/facts/NATO/dCeTddMY">NATO</a>'s military posture was relaxed after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Trident warheads have never been aimed at specific targets on an operational patrol, but await co-ordinates that can be programmed into their computers and fired with several days' notice. Although Trident was designed as a strategic deterrent, the end of the Cold War led the British government to conclude that a <a href="/facts/Nuclear_warfare/HLRLRh4F">sub-strategic</a>—but not <a href="/facts/Tactical_nuclear_weapon/z1M5ekhB">tactical</a>—role was required.
A programme for the replacement of the Vanguard class is under way. On 18 July 2016, the <a href="/facts/House_of_Commons_of_the_United_Kingdom/IyyztqLo">House of Commons</a> voted by a large majority to proceed with building a fleet of <a href="/facts/Dreadnought-class_submarine/knN07gIE">Dreadnought-class</a> submarines, to be operational by 2028, with the current fleet completely phased out by 2032.

Trident (UK nuclear programme) open-in-new

Trident (UK nuclear programme)