Britain could use ‘nuclear weapons as a first strike’

In this file picture, the Union Flag, commonly known as the Union Jack, flutters in the wind before the Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst

 

During an interview on Britain’s “Today” program on BBC Radio 4, Fallon was asked in what type of scenario would Britain consider using nuclear weapons as a preemptive strike option, he replied: “In the most extreme circumstances, we’ve made it very clear that you can’t rule out the use of nuclear weapons as a first strike.”

Britain’s Trident Nuclear Program at Risk From Unmanned Sub Drones

The UK Trident nuclear deterrent program – at the center of a row over its replacement – is at risk from a new generation of cheap underwater drones which could render the whole basis of submarine deployment useless, according to a new report.

The UK parliament is due to make a decision on replacing its ageing fleet of Vanguard class submarines, which carry the Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles to be used as a weapon of last resort as part of Britain’s nuclear deterrent program.

Russian bombers flying near Plymouth gathered ‘valuable intelligence’

 

RUSSIAN bombers which were caught flying close to the Cornish coast are likely to have gathered “valuable intelligence”, senior military figures have warned.

The two long-range Russian “Bear” planes – which are capable of carrying nuclear missiles– were intercepted by RAF jets in UK airspace in February.

But they are believed to have gained vital information about UK defences, experts have now warned.

The Nation’s ICBM Force: Increasingly Creaky Broken Missiles

As the Air Force begins to dust off plans for the Minuteman III ICBM replacement, a stark choice faces the service.

On one hand, the time has come to replace them. On the other, the Air Force is strapped for cash, victim to a perfect storm of bureaucratic bloat, several rounds of defense cuts, and a fighter fleet exhausted by war and age.