nuclear-news

UK to test new ‘Astraea’ nuclear warheads without detonation

The testing will be conducted in collaboration the French at a facility in Dijon, France.

IE, Christopher McFadden, 26 Mar 24

The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) has just announced its intention to test its next-generation nuclear warhead without actually detonating it.

This test will be the first of its kind since international agreements limit new nuclear testing and countries will have to use some highly sophisticated scientific apparatus.

The new warhead, the A21 “Astraea,” will replace the existing British-made warheads on the nation’s stockpile of Trident-II submarine-launched missiles. These missiles are currently carried aboard the UK’s four Vanguard-class nuclear submarines.

Like the nuclear warheads, the UK has pledged to replace its aging Vanguard class with new Dreadnought-class submarines by the mid-2030s. “UK is committed to replacing our sovereign warhead in parliament in February 2021,” the UK’s MoD shared in a white paper……………………………………………………………..  https://interestingengineering.com/military/uk-to-test-new-astraea-nuclear-warheads-without-detonation

March 28, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war