As well as revealing the precarious state of nuclear safety at the Ministry of Defence, the recently released series of annual safety reports has also revealed some interesting insights into the UK's Trident nuclear warhead programme.
UK bilateral cooperation latest news
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NIS videoblog: The UK – Norway Initiative
Our new video blog shows an interview with Andreas Persbo, Executive Director of VERTIC, about the ground-breaking UK – Norway Initiative on disarmament verification. The UK – Norway Initiative has brought researchers from the two nations together to investigate the science of verification of the dismantling of nuclear warheads, and VERTIC has acted as the independent non-government observer for the programme.
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NIS Update: October – November 2010
MOCK WEAPONS INSPECTION TO TAKE PLACE AT AWE
A mock weapons inspection will take place at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in December as part of the latest phase of the UK – Norway Initiative.
The aim of the exercise will be to test confidence building measures during an inspection so that international inspectors can be allowed access to sensitive sites without endangering nuclear secrets.
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Anglo-French nuclear co-operation agreement: New briefing from NIS
Under the terms of a new treaty Britain and France intend to collaborate on nuclear warhead technology for the next 50 years. The agreement, announced by UK Prime Minister David Cameron and France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, commits the two nations to undertake a joint programme of co-operation on nuclear weapon technology at a new hydrodynamics research facility at Valduc in France and a joint Technology Development Centre at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston.
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NIS Update: August – September 2010
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NIS Update: May 2010
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Will US cost-cutting threaten the UK’s Trident replacement programme?
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates – sceptical about Trident replacement
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Anglo-French nuclear patrols – a step towards disarmament
The Guardian has reported that the French government has offered to create a joint UK-French nuclear deterrent by sharing submarine patrols with the Royal Navy.
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Hansard on International Regulations affecting safety at AWE Burghfield
25 Mar 2009 : Column 432W
AWE Burghfield: Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2009, Official Report, column 1668W, on AWE Burghfield: nuclear weapons, what internationally recognised standards and codes of practice are applicable. [265568]
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Hansard on US/UK warhead research at AWE
10 Mar 2009 : Column 236W
Nuclear Weapons: Research
*Lynne Jones:* To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the source is of the funding for the joint US/UK warhead research taking place at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston. [261412]
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Hansard on US/UK nuclear weapons cooperation
Parliamentary Answers on Nuclear Weapons, 27 Feb 2009 : Column 1149W
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British personnel were involved in the design competition for the Reliable Replacement Warhead. [258416]
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US using British atomic weapons factory for its nuclear programme
The US military has been using Britain's atomic weapons factory to carry out research into its own nuclear warhead programme, according to evidence seen by the Guardian.
US defence officials said that “very valuable” warhead research has taken place at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston in Berkshire as part of an ongoing and secretive deal between the British and American governments.