The UK has ruled out any possibility of replacing its current nuclear system with French technology, reaffirming its commitment to the US-supplied Trident II D5.
The statement was made by Defense Minister Luke Pollard in response to questions about possible cooperation relating to the French M51.4 missile.
Although London and Paris maintain close collaboration in nuclear research and technology — strengthened by agreements such as the Teutates Treaty and the recent Northwood Declaration — the British government has made clear that this partnership does not include the development or adoption of a joint strategic missile system.
Currently, the UK uses the Trident II D5 on Vanguard-class submarines, with plans to replace them with the Dreadnought-class over the next decade. France, on the other hand, uses its M51 missiles on Triomphant-class submarines, investing in more advanced versions to increase their range and penetration capacity against enemy defenses.
Despite technological and operational differences, both systems perform the same strategic function of continuous nuclear deterrence. In the British case, the Trident stands out for its strong test history, with over 200 launches and a success rate of over 90%, maintaining its reputation as one of the most reliable systems in the world, even in light of some recent isolated anomalies.
Source: UK Defence Blog | Photo: X @Maks_NAFO_FELLA | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
