The presnt British strategic nuclear deterrent consists of three components of Trident Weapons Systems.This comprises of Vanguard-class nuclear-powered Submarines,each carrying a maximum of 48 Nuclear Warheads,which are mounted upon to 16 Trident II D5 submarine launched ballistic missiles.The present Trident System came into service in late 1994 with a lifespan of 30 years.
So by 2024 it needs to be replaced if Britain opts for Strategic Nuclear Deterrent in the future.So they got to start straight away to plan the replacement,as it takes 15 years for procurement of a new weapon system.
The cost of replacement will be 25 billion pounds.There is oppposition for a new nuclear deterrent in the ruling party as well as in the country,like the opposition in the eighties ,when the present system was assembled.But in the eighties the opposition was very vociferous,with the powerful CND (Council For Nuclear Disarmament) leading the country`s protests.It was cold war days with nuclear super power Soviet Union with its awesome nuclear arsnel, could wipe the world out of existence, several times over.
But cold war is over and do we need a nuclear deterrent?Yes! says Tony Blair,because of the so-called rouge states like North Korea possesing nuclear weapons and Iran on the verge of acquireing it.
The future system will have three submarines instead of four at present and will have less number of war heads.This could save more than 2 biliion pounds. |
