The latest test of the UK’s nuclear deterrent was from HMS Vanguard and was seen by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps. The missile’s booster rockets failed and it landed in the sea close to the launch site, according to the Sun, which first reported the malfunction. Mr Shapps said he has “absolute confidence” in Trident’s submarines, missiles and nuclear warheads.
This is highly embarrassing for both the UK and the US manufacturer of the Trident missile.
British tests of Trident missiles are rare, not least because of the cost. Each missile is worth around £17m and the last test in 2016 also ended in failure when the missile veered off course. Test-fired missiles are not armed with their nuclear warheads.
Both Mr Shapps and the head of the Navy were on board HMS Vanguard when it fired the unarmed test missile in January.
The submarine had just had a more than seven-year refit. In a written statement to Parliament, Mr Shapps confirmed “an anomaly did occur” during the test on 30 January this year, but said Trident is”the most reliable weapons system in the world”. He said: “The test reaffirmed the effectiveness of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, in which the government has absolute confidence. The submarine and crew were successfully certified and will rejoin the operational cycle as planned. “On this occasion, an anomaly did occur, but it was event specific and there are no implications for the reliability of the wider Trident missile systems and stockpiles.
“Nor are there any implications for our ability to fire our nuclear weapons, should the circumstances arise in which we need to do so.”
He added Trident remained “effective, dependable, and formidable.”
The missile was supposed to have flown several thousand miles before landing harmlessly in the Atlantic between Brazil and West Africa. Instead it dropped into the ocean near to where it was launched. At the time of the failed 2016 test, the Sunday Times reported that it was launched from HMS Vengeance off the coast of Florida.
