On March 2014, during the Nuclear Security Summit held in the Netherlands, President Obama identified his number one concern as being the prospect of a nuclear weapon going off in Manhattan. UK Home Secretary Theresa May pinpointed her particular fear of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) acquisition of “chemical, biological or even nuclear weapons” in the “world’s first truly terrorist state”. Fortunately, there has not yet been a nuclear or radiological terrorist attack, but the smuggling of nuclear material remains a pivotal threat to nuclear security.
Publication
Trident is Vulnerable
A debate is now raging over BASIC's exposure of the threat emerging technologies present to the future viability of Trident submarines. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) states they do not believe it is a problem, and that even if it were submarines would still be the best, most stealthy platform for nuclear missiles. The confidence implied in the MoD's public line is unjustified, and must surely cover up a deep concern held by strategists for the future viability of its most expensive weapon system.
B61 Bombs in Europe and the US Life Extension Program
This fact sheet outlines the core issues involved in US plans to modernise the B61 bombs through the Life Extension Program (LEP), the reactions and costs associated with this, and the future of the B61s in Europe.
New Trident submarines doomed by drones of the future, says new report
The Guardian’s Julian Borger wrote an article based on BASIC’s recently published report on underwater drone technology. He explains that because of the new technologies, it will become impossible for submarines to hide in the oceans.
Britain’s Trident Nuclear Program at Risk From Unmanned Sub Drones
Sputnik News published an article that was based on reports written by BASICs David Hambling on the security of the Trident replacement, given the emergence of new underwater technologies. The article quotes Hambling directly on two occasions to frame the context of the emerging underwater drone technology.
Drone technology a threat to Trident submarines, MPs to be told
David Connett has written an article for the Independant based on the BASIC briefing published on underwater drone technologies. Both BASIC and Paul Ingram are both referenced in the article, which discusses how emerging drone technology is likely to render Trident useless by the time it is to be deployed into service.
Will Trident Still Work in the Future?
Developments in anti-submarine warfare could be decisive. Emerging developments in technology that are transforming our lives and already revolutionising the battle-space in air and on land could ensure that submarines will no longer be stealthy in the foreseeable future, however silent they are. This is undeniable, and claims that these risks are minimal to Trident’s future are patently false. The judgement comes in assessing this risk and when it becomes operational, based upon the speed of technology development today, and what countermeasures that could be developed. This briefing outlines the risk and its consequences to the programme.