Grant Shapps has said the government retains “absolute confidence” in the UK’s nuclear deterrent after the test firing of a Trident missile from a Royal Navy submarine failed for the second time in a row.
The defence secretary, who was on board HMS Vanguard when the missile crashed into the sea, said the deterrent remained “effective, dependable and formidable” and Britain’s resolve to use its nuclear weapons, if needed, “remains beyond doubt”.
The Trident II D5 missile misfired and crashed into the sea off the coast of Florida during a rare test launch on January 30, raising questions as to whether the fleet remains credible.
Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, was present when the test failed
JACQUELYN MARTIN/AP
The failed test, conducted last month, was the second Trident missile failure in a row for the Royal Navy’s ageing
