TRIDENT MISSILES

things you might not know about

THERE were red faces all round last week when test firing of a Trident missile from a Royal Navy submarine failed, for the second time in a row.

But what is Trident? Here’s some facts… 1

THE Trident missile is a submarine- launched ballistic missile ( SLBM) equipped with multiple independently targetable re- entry vehicles ( MIRV). 2

FIRST developed by Lockheed Missiles and Space Corporation, the missile is armed with thermonuclear warheads – also known as hydrogen bombs.

3

BRITAIN secured an agreement to buy Trident from the USA in March 1982, to replace its Polaris missile fleet. 4

THE move from Polaris to Trident was phased and completed in 1996.

5

THE delivery platform for the Trident missile is the Vanguardclass nuclear- powered ballistic missile submarine, built by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Limited. 6

FOUR Vanguardclass boats were commissioned – the Vanguard, the Victorious ( below), the Vigilant, and the Vengeance – and each submarine has a crew of approximately 140 and is based at His Majesty’s Navy Base ( HMNB) Clyde at Faslane in Scotland.

7

EACH submarine can carry 16 Trident II

( D5) submarine- launched ballistic missiles ( SLBMs). 8

EACH Trident missile can deliver 12 independentlytargeted warheads, giving each Vanguard class submarine the capability to deploy

192 warheads.

9

THEY have a range of approximately 4,600 miles and are accurate to within 90 metres.

10

THE warheads carried by the Trident missiles are manufactured and designed in the UK by the Atomic Weapons Establishment.