Publication

This note briefly examines the main outomes of the Strategic Defense and Security Review. It has been argued that the UK strategic nuclear deterrent would be retained as a key element of the Future Force 2020. It briefly examines the Trident successor programme, including changes to the UK’s nuclear posture, timeframe and associated cost savings. The author also offers a generic overview of the new UK-French nuclear treaty which, for the first time, establishes co-operation measures between the two nuclear weapon states; and developments in the Trident successor programme since October 2010, including approval of Initial Gate in May 2011.