THE UK’s nuclear deterrent retains the Government’s “absolute confidence”, the Defence Secretary says after a dramatic Trident missile launch failure.
Grant Shapps confirmed the “anomaly” took place at the end of January but insisted the Trident missile system “remains the most reliable weapons system in the world”.
The Sun revealed yesterday the nuclear missile dramatically misfired and crashed into the ocean yards from the British nuclear submarine that launched it.
The second failed launch in a row – after a misfire in 2016 – happened while Grant Shapps was on board HMS Vanguard to witness the test.
But in a written statement to Parliament today, Mr Shapps said: “The Government has absolute confidence that the UK’s deterrent remains effective, dependable, and formidable.”
The Defence Secretary also said the UK’s resolve and capability to use its nuclear weapons should it ever need to “remains beyond doubt”.
He wrote: “The nuclear deterrent deters the most extreme threats to our national security, keeping the UK and our Nato allies safe. It is the ultimate security insurance policy.
“The UK’s resolve and capability to use its nuclear weapons, should we ever need to do so, remains beyond doubt.”
On January 30, the crew on the nuclear sub perfectly completed their doomsday drill, and the Trident 2 missile was propelled into the air by compressed gas in the launch tube.
But its first stage boosters did not ignite and the 58-ton missile – fitted with dummy warheads – splashed into the ocean and sank.
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A source said: “It left the submarine but it just went plop, right next to them.”
HMS Vanguard was under the surface, hovering at launch depth, but was not hit by the 44ft missile as it plunged back into the Atlantic.
Immediately, a frantic probe began to find out what went wrong and a search ordered to recover the top-secret missile technology from the seabed at Port Canaveral, Florida.
It is the second failed test since 2016, when a Trident fired from HMS Vengeance veered off course and self-destructed.
But, despite the setback, officials insist they are confident that the misfire was “event specific”.
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Jerome Starkey
