The Labour party has requested guarantees regarding the reliability of the UK’s nuclear defense system following alarming news about a malfunction during a Trident missile test.
On January 30, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) verified that an unexpected event happened during a training session on the nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Vanguard.
Authorities stated that they were unable to provide further information due to the matter involving national security. They emphasized that they still have complete trust in the UK’s ongoing deployment of a nuclear deterrent at sea, ensuring its safety and efficiency.
According to The Sun’s report, a test failure took place during a recent exercise off the coast of Florida. This incident happened last month.
According to the newspaper, a mock Trident 2 missile was ejected into the sky using compressed gas from its launch tube, but its initial boosters did not ignite.
A source, who wished to remain anonymous and was quoted by the Sun, stated: “The submarine released it, but it simply made a small sound as it landed right beside them.”
The Ministry of Defense stated that the “irregularity” observed during the training was related to a specific event.
Reports indicate that a test launch of a Trident missile by the Royal Navy in June 2016, off the coast of the US, was unsuccessful, marking the second consecutive misfire.
John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, expressed concern over reports of a possible failure during a Trident test. He expects the defence secretary to provide reassurance to Parliament that this incident will not affect the effectiveness of the UK’s deterrent operations.
According to the order paper for Wednesday, the defence secretary, Grant Shapps, is expected to present a written statement on Britain’s nuclear deterrent in the House of Commons.
A representative for the defense secretary confirmed that Shapps was present on the 150-meter ship during the incident.
Admiral Sir Ben Key, the first sea lord, was in attendance to commemorate the last training session for Vanguard and its crew. The vessel underwent a seven-year refurbishment, as stated by a spokesperson from the Ministry of Defence.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Defense stated that HMS Vanguard and its crew have demonstrated their ability to operate the UK’s continuous at-sea deterrent. They successfully passed all required tests during a recent demonstration and shakedown operation, a routine assessment to ensure the submarine is ready for service after undergoing maintenance. This test has confirmed the reliability of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, which we have full confidence in.
“An unexpected event happened during the test. Due to national security concerns, we are unable to disclose additional details. However, we assure that the event was isolated and does not affect the overall reliability of the Trident missile systems and stockpile. The UK’s nuclear defense system remains secure and functional.”
The HMS Vanguard is a nuclear submarine from the Vanguard-class that began patrolling in 1994. One of the submarines is constantly at sea. They are equipped with American-made Trident 2 D5 nuclear missiles, which serve as Britain’s primary nuclear deterrent.
Based on information from the Royal Navy, a Trident missile has a maximum range of 4,000 miles and can reach speeds of over 13,000mph. It measures 13 meters in length and weighs 130,000lb (58,500kg). The missile is launched from the submarine using high-pressure gas and then fires upon reaching the water’s surface.
Each Vanguard-class submarine has a maximum capacity of 16 intercontinental ballistic missiles and can carry up to eight Trident rockets and 40 nuclear warheads.
The V-class submarines will be replaced by the larger Dreadnought-class submarines in the 2030s. The House of Commons library reports that approximately £31bn to £41bn has been allocated for the overall project of replacing the Vanguard-class submarines.
Source: theguardian.com
