Britain will buy a new generation of nuclear warheads - based on US technology - to replace the Trident nuclear weapon system based at Faslane.
The decision was revealed by Pentagon officials who disclosed it before an official announcement has been made by the UK government.
The news will embarrass the government as many experts and politicians will wonder why they learned of the move – which will cost the UK billions of pounds – only after the decision has apparently been made.
It has also raised questions about the UK’s commitment to staunching nuclear proliferation and the country’s reliance on the US for a central plank of its defence strategy.
Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde - commonly known as Faslane - is one of the Royal Navy's main operating bases. Faslane is best known as the main base for the Royal Navy's Submarine Service, including the UK's Vanguard-class nuclear-armed submarines which carry Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles, and the latest generation of Astute-class attack submarines.
Earlier this month, Pentagon officials confirmed that its proposed W93 sea-launched warhead, the nuclear tip of the next generation of submarine-launched ballistic missiles, would share technology with the UK’s next nuclear weapon, implying that a decision had been taken between the two countries to work on the programme.
In public, the UK has not confirmed whether it intends to commission a new nuclear warhead. The Ministry of Defence’s annual update to parliament, published just before Christmas, says only: “Work also continues to develop the evidence to support a government decision when replacing the warhead.”
But last week Admiral Charles Richard, commander of the US strategic command, told the Senate defence committee that there was a requirement for a new warhead, which would be called the W93 or Mk7.
Richard said: “This effort will also support a parallel replacement warhead programme in the United Kingdom, whose nuclear deterrent plays an absolutely vital role in Nato’s overall defence posture.”
It is understood that the US had agreed with the UK not to make any announcement while parliament was in recess. It appears that US defence officials were unaware of the agreement and confirmed the programme’s existence.
