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Contents

SIPRI Yearbook 2016

SIPRI Yearbook 2016

III. British nuclear forces

Chapter:
16. World nuclear forces
Source:
SIPRI Yearbook 2016
Author(s):
Shannon N. Kile, Hans M. Kristensen

As of January 2016 the United Kingdom’s nuclear stockpile consisted of approximately 215 warheads (see table 16.4). The British nuclear deterrent consists exclusively of a sea-based component: four Vanguard class Trident nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) armed with up to 16 UGM-133 Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). The submarines are based at Faslane in western Scotland, and the nuclear warheads are stored and maintained at the Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Coulport. In 2015 the British Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) nuclear weapon safety and custodial security practices came under critical scrutiny, following reports of serious security lapses and a poor safety culture at the Faslane base.1

Citation (MLA):
Kile, Shannon N., and Hans M. Kristensen. "16. World nuclear forces." SIPRI Yearbook. SIPRI. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2016. Web. 21 Jan. 2025. <https://www.sipriyearbook.org/view/9780198787280/sipri-9780198787280-chapter-016-div1-101.xml>.
Citation (APA):
Kile, S., & Kristensen, H. (2016). 16. World nuclear forces. In SIPRI, SIPRI Yearbook 2016: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 21 Jan. 2025, from https://www.sipriyearbook.org/view/9780198787280/sipri-9780198787280-chapter-016-div1-101.xml
Citation (Chicago):
Kile, Shannon N., and Hans M. Kristensen. "16. World nuclear forces." In SIPRI Yearbook 2016: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security, SIPRI. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016). Retrieved 21 Jan. 2025, from https://www.sipriyearbook.org/view/9780198787280/sipri-9780198787280-chapter-016-div1-101.xml
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