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Yes, the problem is that those planes are useless to the UK in term of nuclear capability: They can only carry American tactical nukes, which the UK does not ob
by mytailorisrich 1y ago
Yes, the problem is that those planes are useless to the UK in term of nuclear capability: They can only carry American tactical nukes, which the UK does not obviously have, and any strikes would require authorization by the US and NATO and then supply by the US.
I.e. the UK is paying to follow the orders of the US President.
- rich_sasha 1y agoThis is presumably the same as the naval component - the missiles and warheads are American, and I'd be amazed if the UK can use them if the US vetoes.
- Nursie 1y agoTrident carries UK-manufactured warheads and is allegedly independent, even though it does rely on US ballistic missiles to carry them. Wikipedia says - "The British government insists the warhead is indigenously designed, but analysts including Hans M. Kristensen with the Federation of American Scientists believe that it is largely based on the US W76 design" There appears to be a new design in the works at the moment called "Astraea"
- rich_sasha 1y agoAh, that's an interesting tidbit, I didn't realize.