The Royal Navy's latest test of a Trident missile from HMS Vanguard has failed, marking the second consecutive unsuccessful test of the UK's nuclear deterrent. The missile's booster rockets malfunctioned shortly after launch, causing it to crash into the sea near the launch site, according to reports.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who was aboard the submarine during the test on 30 January, confirmed an 'anomaly' occurred but expressed 'absolute confidence' in the Trident system. In a statement to Parliament, he said the incident was 'event specific' and did not affect the reliability of the wider missile systems or the UK's ability to fire nuclear weapons if necessary.
The failed test follows a similar incident in 2016, when a Trident missile veered off course after launch from HMS Vengeance. The US-manufactured missiles are drawn from a common pool shared with the United States, which has conducted multiple successful tests. The cost of each missile is approximately £17 million.
Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey called for assurances on the effectiveness of the deterrent, while the SNP described the failure as 'embarrassing and scandalous'. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) criticised the expense, noting a reported £500 million refit of HMS Vanguard.
Dr Matthew Harries of the Royal United Services Institute said it was impossible to assess the significance of the failure without more information, but acknowledged the embarrassment of a high-profile malfunction witnessed by the defence secretary. The Ministry of Defence maintained that the test reaffirmed the effectiveness of the UK's nuclear deterrent.
