SECRET
SECRET UK EYES A
XV OPTION G NUCLEAR OPTIONS
137. In a separate more highly classified paper various ways in
which savings in the nuclear programme might be achieved are fully
examined. Justice cannot be done to this option in a paper classified
but a broad outline of the possible variations is set
'Secret';
out below.
At the Critical Level
138. At the Critical level, (Option C), the only savings from the
nuclear programme which could be contemplated from a military
viewpoint would be cancellation of provision for possible future
generation tactical weapons which would yield additional total
savings in the LTC period of about £21m. The implications of this
for the Royal Navy would be the deferment of an increased capability
to destroy the more modern, fast, deep diving nuclear submarines.
Further Savings
139. Further more sweeping reductions (including manpower) in our
nuclear capability have been considered, and are summarised in
the following paragraphs. None is accepted from the military or
political points of view; each would entail a radical change in UK
defence policy, and seriously affect NATO strategy.
Reductions in the Strategic Deterrent (POLARIS)
140. There are two possibilities: to continue the existing force
into the early 1990s, but not improve it so as to maintain its
credibility as a national strategic deterrent;
alternatively, to
scrap the force altogether. The first alternative would save in
practical terms a total of about £170m development, production and
mining costs over the LTC period. The improvement project has been
81
EYES A
SECRET VECHET