Debate over Britain’s nuclear deterrent
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The Conservative Party is committed to building four new missile-armedsubmarines to maintain Britain’s nuclear deterrent, but opponents claim the end of the Cold War makes the weapons unnecessary
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NUCLEAR WEAPONS: WHO HAS WHAT?

Nine countries together possess more than 16,000 warheads

Delivery systems

Land-based missiles

Ballistic missile submarines

Nuclear-capable bombers

United States 7,300

United Kingdom 215

Israel 80

France 300

Russia 8,000

Pakistan 100-120

India 90-110

North Korea 10

China 250

Suspected systems

Systems in development

Iran – suspected of pursuing nuclear weapons
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VANGUARD-CLASS SUBMARINE

Four operational vessels give UK continuous at-sea deterrent and “second-strike” retaliatory capability

Trident II D5 Three-stage, solid-fuelledsubmarine-launched missile.

Range: 12,500km

Length: 150 metres

Submerged speed: 25 knots (46km/h)

Missile compartment

Successor programme: Decision over renewaldelayed until 2016. New submarines expected to cost £25 billion and enter service from 2028
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Sources: Federation of American Scientists, wire agencies

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