Revealed: MoD's new multi-million pound Trident deal with America

A £37 million deal has been struck by Westminster with the US government for a dozen huge new Trident missile launchers more than a year before the UK parliament decides if the nuclear weapons system should be renewed.

US defence giant General Dynamics has been contracted by the US Navy to make 12 launch tubes for a UK submarine that could start to replace those now on the Clyde next decade. The US Navy says the company will make a total of 48 missile tubes for four new UK nuclear submarines.

However, the UK parliament will not take the main decision on whether to renew Trident nuclear weapons, or how many submarines to have, until 2016, after next year's General Election.

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