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A failed trident nuclear test flew in the direction of USA and was covered up by UK

Ministers have been accused of covering up a failed test of the Trident nuclear deterrent weeks before a crucial Commons vote on the future of the submarine-launched missile system.

Labour former defence minister Kevan Jones demanded an inquiry into Sunday Times claims that the launch of an unarmed Trident II D5 missile from a British submarine off the coast of Florida in June malfunctioned.

The newspaper said the cause of the failure remained top secret but questions could be asked over the Government’s failure to publicise the failed test weeks before MPs approved the £40 billion Trident renewal programme in July.
Previous tests have been publicised by the Government.

Mr Jones told the newspaper: ‘The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent is a vital cornerstone for the nation’s defence.

‘If there are problems, they should not have been covered up in this ham-fisted way.

‘Ministers should come clean if there are problems and there should be an urgent inquiry into what happened.’

A Government spokesman said: ‘The capability and effectiveness of the Trident missile, should we ever need to employ it, is unquestionable.

Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/01/22/uk-government-covered-up-failed-nuclear-missile-test-off-coast-of-us-6397719/#ixzz4WVaU85Lz

:rofl:

Reply 1

Willy Pete

Why would they publicise a failed test?

Reply 2

Tempest II

I doubt many people on this forum would have complained if the malfunctioned missile had landed on Donald Trump's campaign rally.

Reply 3

RayApparently

Ah yes, Mrs May repeatedly dodged a question about it on the Andrew Marr show.

Thank God it didn't result in an actual disaster.

Reply 4

Tempest II

Original post by Mathemagicien

This is why we should not rely on US defence technology. It is crap.

Actually, as much as I loath to admit it, American equipment usually works well until we decide to tinker with it (usually because of some cost cutting measure). There's history of the MOD buying US made gear on the cheap & then wondering why after years of cost increases & delays why it still doesn't work when buying off the shelf would have solved many of the issues.
Of course there are always exceptions.