The 60-ton missile, which was carrying phony warheads, exploded into the Atlantic Ocean on January 30 after its first-stage boosters failed to ignite. The missile eventually sank. For the aging nuclear weapons fleet of the Royal Navy, it marks the second consecutive failure of a Trident missile.
Grant Shapps, the secretary of defense, acknowledged in a statement that “an anomaly did occur” during a rare operation on HMS Vanguard on January 30, but emphasized that this was “event specific”.
“Nor are there any implications for our ability to fire our nuclear weapons, should the circumstances arise in which we need to do so,” added Mr. Shapps.
His press release stated: “The Trident missile system remains the most reliable weapons system in the world, having successfully completed more than 190 tests.”
Mr. Shapps stated that there were “no implications for the reliability of the wider Trident missile systems and stockpiles” and that the government had “absolute confidence” in the UK’s nuclear deterrence.
He continued by noting: “The UK’s resolve and capability to use its nuclear weapons, should we ever need to do so, remains beyond doubt.”
