 |
| Graphic shows Trident weapons system. |
July 18, 2016 -- MPs will vote on July 18 on renewing the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system. Prime Minister David Cameron has said he believes the vote will confirm support for replacing the full fleet of submarines, their missiles and warheads.
Britain has four nuclear-powered Vanguard-class submarines, of which one is always on armed patrol. Each submarine carries 16 Trident D5 missiles, each of which is designed to carry up to 12 nuclear warheads known as MIRVs (Multiple Independently Targetable re-entry Vehicles). The Royal Navy's missiles are armed with three MIRVs after the 1998 Strategic Defence Review imposed a limit of 48 per submarine.
Calculations by Reuters and a Conservative MP suggest the cost of replacing Trident could reach £167 billion ($201bn). The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) estimates the price tag will come to at least £205bn.
http://www.graphicnews.com/en/go/pages/34486/MILITARY-UKs-Trident-nuclear-weapon
Calculations by Reuters and a Conservative MP suggest the cost of replacing Trident could reach £167 billion ($201bn). The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) estimates the price tag will come to at least £205bn.
