Work on the new reactor for the Vanguard replacement has already started. Even so we can't buy an N Warhead "off the shelf" for a Trident upgrade or any other N deterrent system due to the N proliferation treaty. The existing weapon has to be replaced and that will be very expensive (not least because experienced manpower is not easily available).
The expense of staying in the N club is still the biggest threat to CVF in my view. I just don't see how we can sustain both major proammes and I think that the next Govt will see that the books can't easily be balanced without cutting something.
Last edited by andyy; 28th Jul 2008 at 09:45.