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3/13/2008 [Total Votes: 403, Hits: 615] Print |
Introduction
United Kingdom has come to acquire a meaner but leaner nuclear force over the years, especially after the end of the Cold War. The country has also been categorised as one of the declining great powers in international relations. However, being one of the P-5 members of the United Nations Security Council has ensured that country still retains relevance on the matters of international peace and security. In terms of external orientations, it has generally followed the line of the United States of America.
Civilian Nuclear Programme
United Kingdom currently operates 24 nuclear reactors which generate one-fifth of the total electricity output of the country. The first commercial nuclear reactor began operating in 1956.1 However, operating this medium sized sector too has been not been without its share of controversies with critics saying that the huge amount of nuclear waste generated by these plants will last for thousands of years.2 WMD Overview
(i). Nuclear Weapons
United Kingdom is party to all the major non-proliferation regimes. Its nuclear weapons programme began in October 1952 with the first device going into service in November 1953.3 This made it the third country in the world to become nuclear weapons state.4 The country ratified the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968.5 Current estimates suggest that the country possesses 200 strategic and sub-strategic warheads.6 The country operates submarine-based nuclear deterrence. | British Nuclear Forces, 2002: Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles7 | | Weapon System | Warheads | | | No. deployed | Year deployed | Range (km) | Warhead x yield | Type | No. in stockpile | | Trident II D-5 | 64 | 1994 | 7,400 | 1-3 x 100 Kt | MIRV | 200 | | # average loading five warheads per missile, some missiles carry one warhead , various yield options | (ii). Chemical Weapons
During the 1920s, in its military campaign in Iraq (then Mesopotamia), the British Royal Air Force used the poison attacks on Iraqis and Kurds fighting the occupation of Iraq.8 The damage that these attacks caused was enormous.9 The country's World War II stockpile of chemical warfare (CW) agents included phosgene, mustard gas, and lewisite. In 1957, United Kingdom gave up the chemical weapons programme and subsequently destroyed the stockpile. In May 1996, the country ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).10.
(iii). Biological Weapons
UK ratified the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention in March 1975. However it had an active biological warfare programme during the period of 1936-1956. It weaponised anthrax and conducted research on the pathogens that cause plague and typhoid fever, as well as botulinum toxin.11 The United Kingdom no longer has an offensive biological weapons programme, although its defensive biological programme is strong.12
Delivery Systems
The United Kingdom's sole nuclear deterrent is based on four new Vanguard-class submarines, each outfitted to carry 16 US-supplied Trident II Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) and 48 warheads.13 Since the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, it has been UK's only active nuclear weapons system. Earlier, between 1968 and mid-1990s, UK submarines also carried Polaris missiles.14 In 2005-06, the British government had considered changing to a land-based or air-based nuclear weapons system but ultimately ruled out.15 In 2006, a new plan was also unveiled to develop a new generation of submarines that would cost £ 15 billion.16 The programme would take 17 years to develop the submarines which would last till 1950. | Vanguard Class SSBN Ballistic Submarine Statistics17 | | Displacement: | 15,980 tons dived | | Length: | 149.9 m | | Beam: | 12.8 m | | Draught: | 12 m | | Complement: | 135 | | Armament: | 16 missile tubes capable of firing Trident D5 missiles 4 torpedo tubes capable of firing Spearfish Torpedoes | | Sensors: | Sonars including Bow, Flank, Active Intercept and Towed Arrays Attack and Search Periscopes Collision avoidance radar Electronic warfare equipment |
| Treaties and Conventions Signed18 | | Treaty, Conventions, Grouping | Status | | NPT | State Party | | CTBT | State Party | | PTBT | State Party | | NSG | Member | | MTCR | Member | | IAEA Safeguards Agreement | Yes (INFCIRC 263) | | IAEA Additional Protocol | In Force since 30th April 2004 | | UNSC 1540 | Report Submitted on 29th September 2004
Additional report submitted 19th September 2005 | | Nuclear Safety Convention | State Party | | Joint Spent Fuel Management Convention | State Party | | Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material | State Party | | CWC | State Party | | BTWC | State Party | | Geneva Protocol | State Party | | PSI | Core Member | | African Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty | Signatory | | Antarctic Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty | Signatory | | Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone Treaty | Signatory | | South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty | Signatory | | Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone in Central Asia | Signatory | Important Speeches, Documents, Domestic Legislations |
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 [1]. Wikipedia contributors, "Nuclear power in the United Kingdom," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nuclear_power_in_the_United_Kingdom&oldid=184048500, accessed on January 13, 2008.
[2]. "British Nuclear Decision Likely to Help Sway Others", http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/46322/story.htm, accessed on January 13, 2008.
[3]. "Britain's Nuclear Weapons: History of the British Nuclear Arsenal", http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Uk/UKArsenalDev.html, accessed on January 13, 2008.
[4]. Wikipedia contributors, "Nuclear weapons and the United Kingdom," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nuclear_weapons_and_the_United_Kingdom&oldid=183852346, accessed on January 13, 2008.
[5]. Ibid.
[6]. See "Table of Global Nuclear Weapons Stockpiles, 1945-2002", www.nrdc.org/nuclear/nudb/datab19.asp, accessed on January 13, 2008.
[7]. See "Table of British Nuclear Forces, 2002", http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/nudb/datab18.asp, accessed on January 13, 2008.
[8]. Jonathan Glancey, "Our Last Occupation", The Guardian, April 19, 2003, http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,939608,00.html, accessed on January 13, 2008.
[9]. "Britain's Use of Chemical Weapons in Iraq", http://www.iraqwar.org/chemical.htm, accessed on January 13, 2008.
[10]. "Country Profile: United Kingdom", http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/UK/index.html, accessed on January 13, 2008.
[11]. Ibid.
[12]. Ibid.
[13]. Ibid.
[14]. Wikipedia contributors, "UGM-27 Polaris," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=UGM-27_Polaris&oldid=183531698, accessed on January 13, 2008.
[15]. "UK Nuclear Weapons Plan Unveiled", BBC News Online, December 4, 2006, accessed on January 13, 2008.
[16]. Ibid.
[17]. "Ballistic Submarines (SSBN)", http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2420, accessed on January 13, 2008.
[18]. "Country Profile: UK- Treaties and Obligations", http://www.nti.org/e_research/official_docs/inventory/pdfs/uk.pdf, accessed on January 13, 2008.
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Cold War, United Kingdom, Nuclear Force, United Nations Security Council, International Peace and Security, First Commercial Nuclear Reactor, Nuclear Waste, Nuclear Weapons Programme, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles, Military Campaign in Iraq, British Royal Air Force, World War II, Chemical Warfare, Phosgene, Mustard Gas, Chemical Weapons Convention, CWC, Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, Biological Warfare Programme, Biological Weapons Programme, Defensive Biological Programme, Sole Nuclear Deterrent, Vanguard-Class Submarines, Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles, SLBMs, Active Nuclear Weapons System, Polaris Missiles, Geneva Protocol, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Iron Curtain, Nuclear Explosions, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
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