A recent test firing of a Trident missile from a Royal Navy submarine has failed for the second time in a row. The test, witnessed by the defence secretary, was from HMS Vanguard. It has been reported that the missile’s booster rockets failed, and it landed in the sea close to the launch site. Although the missiles are not fitted for test fires, missiles on patrol would usually carry nuclear warheads.
The Ministry of Defence has claimed that the “nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and effective”. However, the failed test is highly embarrassing for both the UK and the US manufacturer of the Trident missile. British tests of Trident missiles are rare due to the high costs involved, with the price tag of each missile being around £17m. The last test, which ended in failure, was in 2016 when the missile veered off course.
Both the Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and the head of the Navy were on board HMS Vanguard off the eastern coast of the US for the most recent test. The submarine had just had an over seven-year refit. A defence source insisted the Trident “could absolutely fire in a real-world situation” if it needed to.
The Labour Party has called for assurances over the effectiveness of the nuclear deterrent. Shadow defence secretary John Healey said the defence secretary would want to reassure Parliament that this test has no impact on the effectiveness of the UK’s deterrent operations. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) described it as a costly failure following a reported £500m refit. The group campaigns to rid Britain and the rest of the world of nuclear weapons
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