Editing Vanguard-class submarine (section)

===Nuclear warheads===
[[British nuclear weapons]] are designed and developed by the UK's [[Atomic Weapons Establishment]]. The boats are capable of deploying with a maximum of 192 independently targetable warheads, or [[Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle|MIRVs]], with immediate readiness to fire. However, as a result of a decision taken by the [[Strategic Defence Review|1998 Strategic Defence Review]] this was reduced to 48 warheads with a readiness to fire reduced 'to days rather than minutes'. Furthermore, the total number of warheads maintained by the United Kingdom was reduced to approximately 200, with a total of 58 Trident missiles.  The 2010 [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010|Strategic Defence and Security Review]] reduced this number further and the submarines will put to sea in future with a reduced total of 40 warheads and a reduced missile load of 8 (from a maximum possible 16). The number of operationally available nuclear warheads is to be reduced 'from fewer than 160 to no more than 120 and the total UK nuclear weapon stockpile will number no more than 180.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_191634.pdf|title=Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review|date=19 October 2010|publisher=HM Government|access-date=19 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222022127/http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/%40dg/%40en/documents/digitalasset/dg_191634.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The warheads, named  Holbrook, use the Mark 4A aeroshell, and have a yield of 100kt. It is thought to be technically similar to the American [[W76]] warhead, with which it shares its aeroshell and some non-nuclear components.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Claire |date=1 August 2024 |title=Replacing the UK's nuclear deterrent: The warhead programme |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9777/CBP-9777.pdf |website=House of Commons Library}}</ref>

On 16 March 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled his government's 10-year plan to boost international trade and deploy soft power around the world with an aspiration of creating a “Global Britain”. In a document called ''[[Integrated Review|Global Britain in a competitive age]]'', this plan raised the cap on the number of nuclear warheads aboard the Royal Navy's Trident submarines from 180 to 260. The document also vowed to maintain a fleet of four nuclear-armed submarines so Britain would always have one at sea.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/boris-johnsons-vision-for-post-brexit-global-britain-starts-with-more-nuclear-weapons/ar-BB1eEtOo?li=BBnbfcL |title=Boris Johnson's vision for post-Brexit 'Global Britain' includes more nuclear weapons |newspaper=The Washington Post |last=Booth |first=William |date=16 March 2021 |access-date=21 June 2021 |via=msn.com}}</ref> Information of number of deployed warheads and missiles would also no longer be provided following the 2021 Integrated Review, under a policy of "deliberate ambiguity".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Claire |date=2023-05-03 |title=Nuclear weapons at a glance: United Kingdom |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9077/CBP-9077.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227005341/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9077/CBP-9077.pdf |archive-date=2023-12-27 |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=House of Commons Library}}</ref>