Government strikes deal with US for Trident missiles replacement

The government is planning to replace the UK’s controversial Trident missiles with nuclear warheads supplied by the US, Pentagon officials have revealed.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed over the weekend that officials were looking at options to replace the current Trident warheads.

It followed an announcement by US Strategic Command commander Admiral Charles Richard, who wrote in a statement that the US was developing a replacement warhead called W93 or Mk7 for its own military.

“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,” he said.

It is understood that the Government has been unable to find the time to inform Parliament, which is in recess, but an official announcement will be made shortly.

Several MPs hit out at the planned deal shortly after it was revealed in The Observer, with Ed Davey, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, calling it “totally unacceptable”.

“Britain under Johnson increasingly looks like putty in Trump’s hands,” he told the newspaper.

“That Britain’s major defence decisions are being debated in the United States, but not in the UK, is a scandal. Under Johnson, it seems that where Trump leads, we must follow.”

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The MoD’s update to Parliament published shortly before Christmas did not confirm the upgrade.

“Work also continues to develop the evidence to support a Government decision when replacing the warhead,” it said.

The plans were also referenced by a Pentagon under secretary of defence, Alan Shaffer, who said “it’s wonderful that the UK is working on a new warhead at the same time”, according to US publication Defense Daily last week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has long backed the proposed replacement and the Conservatives committed to renewing the deterrent ahead of the election.

The cost has been estimated at £31 billion.

An MoD spokeswoman said: “As previously stated in the 2015 defence review, we can confirm that we are working towards replacing the warhead.

“We have a strong defence relationship with the US and will continue to remain compatible with the US Trident missile.

“An announcement about the UK’s replacement warhead programme will be made in due course.”