The Government has made an investment of some £1 billion over three years to ensure AWE’s continuing ability to achieve our programme safely and effectively.
In December 2006, the Government published a White Paper on ‘The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent’. This stated that the Government has decided to take the steps necessary to sustain a credible deterrent capability in to the 2020s and beyond.
The White Paper outlined that the Government would continue the programme of investment at AWE, to ensure that the existing warhead can be maintained for as long as necessary, and to enable the development of a successor warhead should one be required. The Government has also decided to reduce the UK’s stockpile of operationally available warheads by approximately 20% to fewer than 160.
The current nuclear warhead design is expected to last into the 2020s, and no Government decisions on any refurbishment or replacement have been announced.