Written question asked by Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party) on Friday, 4 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 March 2005. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Thursday, 10 March 2005 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what alterations would be required to enable the UK to mount current Trident nuclear warheads on cruise missiles.

Answer: Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what alterations would be required to enable the UK to mount current Trident nuclear warheads on cruise missiles. [221037] Mr. Hoon: The nuclear warhead mounted on the United Kingdom's Trident submarine-launched ballistic missiles was designed for use only on such missiles. Fundamental design changes would be required to enable it to function safely and effectively when mounted on a cruise missile, but no detailed assessment of such changes, or their feasibility, has been made.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 431 c1998W;431 c1990W; 221037
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Nuclear weapons Modernisation Trident submarines Trident Cruise missiles
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk