Re: BBC: Guthrie says RN needs more smaller Ships, not Carri
Lord Guthrie said:
"Where should cuts fall? What are the candidates?
First, Britain must I think maintain its nuclear deterrent. Our nuclear asset will continue to deter a major attack on the UK by another state for many decades to come. But upgrading our nuclear missiles will be expensive.
Replacing our four nuclear submarines, each with 16 Trident D5 missiles (each of which can mount 12 warheads) will cost about £20 billion. Extending the life of the existing system would therefore be good housekeeping, saving the £20 billion cost of the upgrading, without losing the value of deterrence against aggressive small states. There should, however, be exploration of new lightweight options for delivery. For instance, cruise missiles.
I also believe that we should strive for a nuclear free world and limit proliferation. But we will be listened to far more if we are a nuclear power and can bargain. Would we want to leave the discussion to the US, Russia, China, Israel, Pakistan, Iran and North Korea?
A cheaper nuclear weapon system can be as effective as a state of the art weapon in creating the right strategic ‘effect’. If there is a reasonable chance that our nuclear weapons could penetrate moderately advanced anti-missile defences, then our potential adversary would not take the risk and thus the deterrent effect is maintained."