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UK - Botched Nuclear Warhead Projects - The Economist

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UK - Botched Nuclear Warhead Projects - The Economist

Old 10th Feb 2020, 21:08
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Why not buy in the US again?
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Old 10th Feb 2020, 22:45
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Originally Posted by Less Hair
Why not buy in the US again?
The SLBM warheads have never been bought from the US - only the Polaris and Trident rockets.

UK Polaris, Polaris "Chevaline" MIRV upgrade and Trident warheads were all UK built.

https://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/e...0-21_21:31:40!

https://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Uk/UKArsenalDev.html

https://www.nti.org/learn/countries/...ngdom/nuclear/
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Old 11th Feb 2020, 06:38
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Originally Posted by Asturias56
Back on subject aren't both Aldermaston & Burghfield in private hands these days?
Government owned, contractor operated since 1993. The current consortium is Lockheed-Martin/Jacobs/Serco.

And I must take issue with the gross inaccuracies in the article. There are 1940s facilities still in use on both sites - Aldermaston was a MOS/USAAF airfield and Burghfield a shell-filling factory.

Last edited by Whenurhappy; 11th Feb 2020 at 06:49.
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Old 11th Feb 2020, 06:48
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Originally Posted by RAFEngO74to09
The SLBM warheads have never been bought from the US - only the Polaris and Trident rockets.

UK Polaris, Polaris "Chevaline" MIRV upgrade and Trident warheads were all UK built.

https://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/e...0-21_21:31:40!

https://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Uk/UKArsenalDev.html

https://www.nti.org/learn/countries/...ngdom/nuclear/
Yes, the Russian disinformation that the US controls Britain's warheads is strong and difficult to shift.

The concern should be is whether the UK has sufficient SQEP to design, manufacture and NDT a new range of warheads, whilst decommissioning the present stock of REVs. The last time AWE did this was in the early 1990s with the introduction of the Trident, decommissioning of the Chevaline upgrade and sustainment and then early retirement of the WE177 variants. Most of those then junior engineers and scientists will be retiring over the next few years.
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Old 11th Feb 2020, 09:09
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Originally Posted by Vortex Hoop
Time to scrap CASD and get a cheaper WE177-type option back for the Typhoon/Dave methinks?
Nope.

The RAF neither has the technical expertise or corporate knowledge to maintain an airborne nuclear weapon system.

Of course there are still some active old gits going around who may have the skills, but they would have to make an extremely attractive offer to get us out of bed in the morning...
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Old 11th Feb 2020, 11:04
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"but they would have to make an extremely attractive offer to get us out of bed in the morning"

Jeez the thought of having to do 100 day checks again (that usually took 30 days to complete on the V's) sends shudders down my spine - more brandy nursey
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Old 11th Feb 2020, 11:12
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Surely its true that our nukes are US controlled- lets face it they have the highest regard for us when it comes to security and intelligence matters but as we could at anytime elect someone who in their eyes was a Commie why on earth wouldnt they have a backstop to stop such a person using them or not using them against US interestes.
As to the comment about Russian disinformation they might have been true once but these days they might already be in control of our defence network without us knowing it. After all they helped get us out of Europe and elected Boris didnt they?

Of course the words tongue and cheek sort of apply to above.
As for over budget projects they do exist everywhere except possibly France where Napoleans tactic of executing dodgy ship builders still lives in some memories but then the french seem accept that all such projects are run by crooked politicians and crooked contractors-if the overrun isnt obscene and the project works then its just c'est la vie.

The issue with HS2 is that is it really worth it given the Birmingham isnt far from London anyway and does it really matter to anyone if a train takes 55 minutes or 1 hr 20, its not going to make day trips easier or businessmens ives more efficient and certainly not cheaper , in terms of real improvments LHR 3 would be a better investment along with better cross country rail to diversify things away from London. Lets face it if phase 2, the northern part ,was to be built first it would never have left the drawing board
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Old 11th Feb 2020, 12:01
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Originally Posted by weemonkey
Nope.

The RAF neither has the technical expertise or corporate knowledge to maintain an airborne nuclear weapon system.
..
That was also true before they adopted nuclear weapons and look where that got us.
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Old 11th Feb 2020, 14:26
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Originally Posted by beardy
That was also true before they adopted nuclear weapons and look where that got us.
Yep!


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Old 11th Feb 2020, 16:11
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You lot could not even the wheels on straight!
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Old 11th Feb 2020, 17:11
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Originally Posted by weemonkey
Yep!



Point of order, that aircraft just about maintaining flight is a naval aircraft; there's quite a big clue written on the side. I believe the RAF rightly hung their bombs off proper jets, flown by lantern jawed heroes, not scruffy bearded blokes. 🤓
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Old 11th Feb 2020, 20:26
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Originally Posted by weemonkey
Nope.

The RAF neither has the technical expertise or corporate knowledge to maintain an airborne nuclear weapon system.

Of course there are still some active old gits going around who may have the skills, but they would have to make an extremely attractive offer to get us out of bed in the morning...
it was briefly considered at senior levels by the RAF back in 2009 in the run up to SDSR 2010 and quickly dismissed as being a bonkers idea.
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Old 12th Feb 2020, 07:41
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I agree - you'd never get them out of bed before the pubs open.......
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Old 13th Feb 2020, 05:51
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Originally Posted by weemonkey
Yep!

who in their right mind would strap a tactical nuke (in this case?a WE 177) to a helicopter? Presumably the crew drew lots to avoid this mission.
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Old 13th Feb 2020, 07:15
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I'm sure the concept of the RN delivering a nuclear weapon at a max speed of about 90 kts and with regular stops for fuel really had Ivan quaking in his boots
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Old 13th Feb 2020, 07:31
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Originally Posted by Asturias56
I agree - you'd never get them out of bed before the pubs open.......
Aye, aye, a Pie and a Pint, you make it seem like a bad thing
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Old 13th Feb 2020, 07:32
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Ah - but remember the Swordfish? It flew so slowly and was soooo out of date it was success....................
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Old 13th Feb 2020, 13:07
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Originally Posted by Capt Kremmen
Perhaps someone will correct me but. I cannot remember - within the last forty years - any capital project, either taxpayer funded or privately that has been finished on time and within budget. At a fundamental level, I wonder whether it has anything at all to do with grade inflation in the State educational system in GB.
Manchester Metrolink Trafford Park extension?
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Old 13th Feb 2020, 16:07
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A14 upgrade?

AS'
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Old 13th Feb 2020, 17:04
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As this is the military forum, why not mention a controversial one?

BOWMAN HF replacement. Under cost, ahead of schedule and to a better spec; deployed in theatre before BOWMAN was contracted.

General Officer Commanding Afg - 'Comms system of choice'. He would know.
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