HL Deb 09 October 1989 vol 511 cc132-3WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the implications for the delivery of Trident II missiles to the Royal Navy of the most recent delays in the further underwater launch testing of these missiles by the US Navy, the first having been unsuccessful.

The Earl of Arran

Following a satisfactory programme of test firings from a ground station, there have now been three test firings of the Trident D5 missile from a submarine, the first and third of which failed early in first stage flight. Following extensive investigations, the US Navy is satisfied that it has identified the cause of both failures, which were related, and is developing modifications to the missile to correct this. The test programme is expected to resume later this year, and the Trident system remains scheduled to enter service with the USN in March 1990. Against the background, I am satisfied that the recent failures should not affect our own programme to introduce the missile into service with the Royal Navy in the mid 1990s.