Scrapping Trident nuclear missiles 'would save £83.5bn'

The Guardian ^ | 3/21/2012 | Richard Norton-Taylor

[U-238]

Scrapping the Trident nuclear missile system would save £83.5bn and many of the jobs at risk could be transferred to alternative defence projects, according to an authoritative study published on Wednesday.

An average annual saving of £1.86bn would be made until 2062, it says. The study, commissioned by senior figures from all three main parties, points out that the savings would not be available immediately because cancellation and decommissioning costs would have to be taken into account.

The report, by Professor Keith Hartley, a leading defence economist, is published by a commission set up by the British American Security Information Council. The Trident commission is jointly chaired by the former Conservative and Labour defence secretaries Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Lord Browne and the former Liberal Democrat leader and foreign and defence spokesman, Sir Menzies Campbell.

The option of arming a new fleet of Astute submarines with nuclear-armed cruise missiles – which is being considered by an internal Ministry of Defence study – might cost £56.5bn up to 2058, the report says.

Under the worst case scenario, scrapping Trident could lead to the loss of 31,000 jobs, it says. Jobs linked to the Trident nuclear missile project are concentrated at the BAE Systems shipyards at Barrow-in-Furness, Rolls Royce in Derby, the naval shipyard at Devonport near Plymouth, and the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston in Berkshire

[U-238]

We need those subs as part of our SIOP plan.The four Vanguard submarines could strike a maximum of 512 separate targets and provides a retaliatory response by the UK.Those submarines are in control of the Royal Navy.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

Getting rid of military capabilities to save money is a false economy...

[FreedomPoster]

I started reading the headline and immediately thought Barry was trying to pull a fast one. Then I saw the £ sign and was relieved.

[The Working Man]

Tongue in cheek here, (well not totally), I approve of this plan. It assists in keeping nuclear weapons out of Islamic Regimes’ hands.

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

Unfortunately, the emerging UK defense strategy appears to be: Curl up in a ball and squeal “Don’t hurt me.” It worked so well for Neville Chamberlain.

TC

[rbg81]

Of course, Britain could save ton of $$ too by not providing relief benefits to its hordes of Muslim immigrants. But....that would make too much sense.

[Pollster1]

Pay no attention to the weapons program in Iran. We would be much safer if Britain's leader appeased the anger of the antisemitic nutcase who is building up his military and threatening other countries. It worked out last time - eventually.

[U-238]

Those missiles on the Vanguard/Trident submarines are dedicated to one target:Russia(both industrial and military). They will be used according to the SIOP plan of attack

[U-238]

The Royal Navy, the British Government, or our government will liquidate the subs because they carry 7 percent of the total U.S. nuclear strike capacity.It may be small but that is a lot of megatonnage.

[U-238]

Ministry of Defense British Nuclear Deterrence

http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/AC00DD79-76D6-4FE3-91A1-6A56B03C092F/0/DefenceWhitePaper2006_Cm6994.pdf

[Pollster1]

Those missiles on the Vanguard/Trident submarines are dedicated to one target:Russia(both industrial and military). They will be used according to the SIOP plan of attack

I believe the British and American submarine launched ballistic missiles are currently targeted on aimpoints at sea, and even to strike Russia the missiles would have to be retargeted. Those missiles can be retargeted to a new threat in their database or against a completely new location if needed - by the weapons officers aboard the submarines using the computers in their Missile Control Center. In addition to end of the world SIOP options, there is sufficient flexibility for a limited strike. It's not like Iran could deliver a couple of nukes to London and the British would have to say, "Oh Dear! But those things happen. Must keep a stiff upper lip."

[U-238]

They believe the British and American submarine launched ballistic missiles are currently targeted on aimpoints at sea, and even to strike Russia the missiles would have to be retargeted

Those missiles can retargeted within less than a minute.

[Pollster1]

Those missiles can retargeted within less than a minute.

I don't think it is prudent to give specific times, but I'll agree that it can be done in a reasonable time period.

[U-238]

The USAF/Global Strike hold contests between their missile wings on how fast they can get their missiles off the ground, missile maintenance,etc. Then, they give awards to the various wings. There will be one in September and October.