The coalition parties are at odds after a Lib Dem-prompted government report set out options for replacing the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system.
The Lib Dems favour reducing the number of Vanguard submarines from four now to three, saying the existing system was designed for the Cold War era.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said it would be "naive or reckless" not to have a like-for-like replacement.
But Lib Dem Danny Alexander accused him of trying to "rubbish the report".
A final decision on the issue is to be made in 2016, after the next election.
The UK has had a continuous-at-sea nuclear weapons system, with at least one submarine on patrol at any given time, for more than 40 years and has used the Trident system since the early 1990s.
While the government remains committed to Trident, the coalition partners agreed to undertake a review amid disagreements over future capability and cost.
The review makes no recommendations but set outs a range of options.
Its main findings are:
- There are alternatives to the current posture which would enable the UK to inflict "significant damage" and deter aggressors
- Submarines could potentially be operated at "reduced readiness" when threat levels are lower
- A continuous-at-sea presence is the most "resilient" posture and guarantees the quickest response
- Land and air-based delivery systems effectively ruled out
- An entirely new system, using cruise rather than ballistic missiles, would be more expensive than renewing Trident
The UK's current four-submarine fleet will reach the end of its lifespan in the 2020s and one of the main arguments surrounds how many "successor" submarines - which take 17 years to build - should be commissioned.
Analysis
The Trident Alternatives Review was never going to settle the debate about the future of Britain's nuclear deterrent.
The review asked three key questions. The first two were: Are there credible alternatives to a submarine-based deterrent? Are there credible submarine-based alternatives to the current proposal - such as modifying the Astute submarines?
In both cases the answer appears to be no. Basing nuclear missile silos on land was never really a starter. Too controversial and too easy to target. And the review appears to conclude that modifying the Astute submarines to carry nuclear cruise missiles would be both more expensive and less effective.
The one hope for the Liberal Democrats is in the last question: Are there alternative nuclear postures, such as a non-continuous at-sea deterrent?
For the Conservatives the answer is still no. Philip Hammond says it would be like having a part time deterrent. He wants a like-for-like replacement.
But the Liberal Democrats argue you could save billions of pounds by having two submarines instead of four. There will be clear blue water between the two parties before the next election.
The report suggests four boats would be required to maintain a continuous-at-sea presence and a smaller fleet would risk "multiple unplanned breaks" in 24-hour patrolling and could affect the UK's ability to respond in crises.
It says the UK could still operate a nuclear weapons system with three or even two boats but that would depend on "political confidence" that there was no chance of an unexpected pre-emptive attack and more regular patrols could be reconstituted.
But Mr Hammond told the BBC that nuclear submarines were the "most complex man-made object on earth" and reducing the numbers available would leave the UK extremely "vulnerable".
"Just because we do not perceive an immediate threat today, does not mean there would not be a threat over the 60-year odd time horizon we are looking at," he said.
"The truth is, at the end of the day, we can have continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrents or we can have a part-time deterrent. The part-time deterrent will save us only trivial sums of money."
But Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander accused Mr Hammond of trying to "rubbish the report" and said his Conservatives colleagues "were worried about losing the argument".
'Nuclear ladder'The UK's nuclear policy had "not moved on very much since the end of the Cold War", he said, and the review showed there were "credible alternatives" to the current arrangements.
TRIDENT TIMELINE
- 2007: MPs approve plans for renewal in Commons vote. "Concept phase" launched to assess future submarine designs and consider value for money of project
- 2010: Defence review decides to delay final decision on renewal to 2016
- 2011: "Initial Gate" procurement phase to begin. Some building materials and components of nuclear propulsion system to be purchased over five years
- 2016: "Main Gate" decision due to be taken. Submarine design and missile component contracts to be finalised
- 2028: First replacement submarine to be delivered
"We can move on by ending 24-hour patrols when we don't need them and buying fewer submarines," he said.
"That way we can move down the ladder of disarmament as a country without compromising our national security."
Critics have questioned whether the UK can continue to pay for Trident in its current form. The government estimates renewal costs will be between £15bn and £20bn but anti-nuclear campaigners say the figure will be much higher.
Mr Alexander said £4bn would be saved in the medium to long term from moving from four to three submarines but the Ministry of Defence says the current cost of operating the Trident fleet is about 5% of the annual £34bn defence budget.
A group of former defence secretaries and military chiefs - including Liam Fox and Lord Reid - have added their voices to those calling for Trident to stay in its current form in a letter to the Daily Telegraph.
Labour, which backed like-for-like renewal the last time Parliament voted in 2007, said the UK must have the "minimum credible deterrent" to guarantee its national security but must also ensure "maximum" value for money.
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament said cancelling Trident would bring "strategic and economic benefits" and for the government not to consider this seriously would be an "abdication of responsibility".
Publishing an alternative review, which it says has the backing of a number of Lib Dem and Labour MPs, its general secretary Kate Hudson said not proceeding could save £100bn and give the UK "moral leadership" in global disarmament talks.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Lib Dems and Tories in Trident clash
Dengan url
http://beritaberbagiceria.blogspot.com/2013/07/lib-dems-and-tories-in-trident-clash.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Lib Dems and Tories in Trident clash
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Lib Dems and Tories in Trident clash
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar