The British newspaper “The Sun” reported a malfunction in the UK’s Trident nuclear deterrent system during a test last month, where a missile fell into the ocean near the submarine from which it was launched. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the malfunction during the test but assured that the Trident nuclear deterrent system remains safe, secure, and effective.
Defence Minister Grant Shapps, who was present on the Vanguard submarine during the test, explained that the missile’s first-stage boosters failed to ignite. This incident marks the second failure of a Trident missile test, following a deviation from its course in 2016, which is embarrassing for a country once boasting the world’s largest and most powerful navy.
“The Sun” cited an unnamed source stating that the missile was launched from the submarine but fell into the water right beside it. Shapps emphasized that the operation reaffirmed the effectiveness of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, stating that the submarine and its crew were successfully certified for operational readiness, and the malfunction was isolated to this incident alone.
He further assured that there were no implications for the reliability of the entire Trident missile system or its arsenal, nor on the UK’s capability to launch its nuclear weapons if necessary. The government has complete confidence that the nuclear deterrent system remains effective, reliable, and robust.
The UK’s nuclear deterrent consists of four nuclear-powered submarines equipped with the US-made Trident ballistic missile system, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, with the warheads being produced in the UK. Both the UK and the US report that the Trident missile system has had over 190 successful test firings.
