{
  "id": "uk-trident-force",
  "name": "UK Trident force",
  "aliases": [
    "Continuous at-sea deterrent",
    "CASD"
  ],
  "domain": "nuclear",
  "country": "GBR",
  "category": "Nuclear force component",
  "status": "active",
  "fielded": null,
  "operators": [
    "GBR"
  ],
  "summary": "The UK's sole nuclear system: four Vanguard-class SSBNs with Trident II D5 missiles under continuous at-sea deterrence.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "platforms",
      "v": "HMS Vanguard, Victorious, Vengeance, Vigilant; 16 tubes each",
      "src": [
        "fas-nn-gbr-2024"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "launchers",
      "v": 48,
      "src": [
        "fas-nn-gbr-2024"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "UK holds title to 58 Trident missiles in a pool shared with the U.S. Navy"
    },
    {
      "k": "wh_deployed",
      "v": 120,
      "src": [
        "fas-nn-gbr-2024"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "Operationally available; about 40 on the boat at sea"
    },
    {
      "k": "warhead_type",
      "v": "Holbrook (Mk4A)",
      "src": [
        "fas-nn-gbr-2024"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "bases",
      "v": "HMNB Clyde (Faslane); RNAD Coulport",
      "src": [
        "fas-nn-gbr-2024"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "program",
      "v": "Dreadnought class: 4 boats with 12 tubes, early 2030s",
      "src": [
        "fas-nn-gbr-2024"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [],
  "art": "nuclear",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-11-08",
      "change": "Entry created from United Kingdom nuclear weapons, 2024 (FAS Nuclear Notebook)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/uk-trident-force.html",
  "sources": {
    "fas-nn-gbr-2024": {
      "title": "United Kingdom nuclear weapons, 2024",
      "publisher": "Federation of American Scientists Nuclear Notebook, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists",
      "url": "https://fas.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/United-Kingdom-nuclear-weapons-2024.pdf",
      "published": "2024-11-12",
      "tier": 2,
      "checked": "2026-11-08"
    }
  }
}