This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/23/michael-fallon-accused-of-keeping-mps-in-dark-over-trident-failure

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Michael Fallon accused of keeping MPs in dark over Trident failure Michael Fallon accused of keeping MPs in dark over Trident failure
(35 minutes later)
Downing Street is under growing pressure over its handling of a failed test of the Trident nuclear system, as it emerged Theresa May Michael Fallon was accused by MPs of keeping parliament in the dark about the failed Trident missile test, as it emerged that a US official had told CNN that it had been forced to self destruct.
as reports from the US suggested the missile had to blow itself up in mid air,
Defence secretary Michael Fallon has refused to appear before parliament’s defence watchdog to answer claims that a Trident missile was forced to self-destruct in mid-air off the US coast because of a technical failure during a military test last year.
critical of the handling of the issue, which he said had “embarrassed” the PM and “given succour” to opponents of the deterrent. The failure to deal with it in “an open way has caused huge problems”, he added.
that an electronic error caused the missile to self destruct off the coast of Florida.
In a Commons statement, the defence secretary refused to provide further information about the incident, saying it was important not to reveal operational details of the test for reasons of national security.In a Commons statement, the defence secretary refused to provide further information about the incident, saying it was important not to reveal operational details of the test for reasons of national security.
I witnessed the launch in question from the survey vessel 2.5 miles away from where the missile came out of the sea. For those of use who support the indepedent deterrent it would make it much easier for us to make the case if the noble earl could assure us a full I have no knowledge at all of what went wrong and
Is the SoS telling us that nothing went wrong on this particular launch
Isn’t it better to be quite frank especially if it has no strategic significant
Sir Craig /Oliver cehemently deny that they knew about the aborted Trident test
Will he accept an invitation to
He stonewalled a succession of questions from Labour, SNP and Conservative MPs, who demanded to know why they had not been told about the failed test before being asked to renew the £40bn Trident system in a parliamentary vote last July.He stonewalled a succession of questions from Labour, SNP and Conservative MPs, who demanded to know why they had not been told about the failed test before being asked to renew the £40bn Trident system in a parliamentary vote last July.
But as he spoke, CNN published a report citing an unnamed US official, who said the British missile was diverted into the ocean to self-destruct – an automatic procedure when electronics detect an anomaly.But as he spoke, CNN published a report citing an unnamed US official, who said the British missile was diverted into the ocean to self-destruct – an automatic procedure when electronics detect an anomaly.
It prompted a Labour MP to challenge Fallon on why US officials know more than the British public about failed test.It prompted a Labour MP to challenge Fallon on why US officials know more than the British public about failed test.
Mary Creagh asked: “Should we believe the US official who, while we have been sitting here, has confirmed to CNN that the missile auto-self-destructed off the coast of Florida? If that is the case, why is the British parliament and the British public the last people to know?” she said.Mary Creagh asked: “Should we believe the US official who, while we have been sitting here, has confirmed to CNN that the missile auto-self-destructed off the coast of Florida? If that is the case, why is the British parliament and the British public the last people to know?” she said.
Fallon refused to answer, while trying to cast doubt on the accuracy of a Sunday Times story that first revealed that a missile test had gone wrong. It reported that there was a malfunction that may have led the missile to head back towards the US rather than its planned path towards the west coast of Africa.Fallon refused to answer, while trying to cast doubt on the accuracy of a Sunday Times story that first revealed that a missile test had gone wrong. It reported that there was a malfunction that may have led the missile to head back towards the US rather than its planned path towards the west coast of Africa.
Earlier, Fallon told MPs that the government had “absolute faith” in the Trident nuclear deterrent. The defence secretary said people should be cautious about “believing everything in weekend press” – referring to original reports of the missile failure – while refusing to say which elements of the story he believed to be false.Earlier, Fallon told MPs that the government had “absolute faith” in the Trident nuclear deterrent. The defence secretary said people should be cautious about “believing everything in weekend press” – referring to original reports of the missile failure – while refusing to say which elements of the story he believed to be false.
Pressed repeatedly for details about the incident, Fallon said: “I don’t believe in greater transparency to this house when it comes to our nuclear deterrent.”Pressed repeatedly for details about the incident, Fallon said: “I don’t believe in greater transparency to this house when it comes to our nuclear deterrent.”
Both Theresa May and Fallon have been accused of a cover-up because they were briefed about the Trident test before the parliamentary vote on Trident in July.Both Theresa May and Fallon have been accused of a cover-up because they were briefed about the Trident test before the parliamentary vote on Trident in July.
Julian Lewis, the chairman of the Commons defence committee, said May “should probably have spoken up” about any malfunction during last July’s debate and called for the person responsible for keeping it secret to be sacked.Julian Lewis, the chairman of the Commons defence committee, said May “should probably have spoken up” about any malfunction during last July’s debate and called for the person responsible for keeping it secret to be sacked.
UK defence sources have confirmed to the Guardian that the test firing of the Trident 11 D5 ballistic missile had failed but were keen to make the point that it had not been down to a malfunctioning on the part of the missile itself.UK defence sources have confirmed to the Guardian that the test firing of the Trident 11 D5 ballistic missile had failed but were keen to make the point that it had not been down to a malfunctioning on the part of the missile itself.
The finger of blame was pointed at telemetric directional data, which is the information conveyed to the missile needed to hit the target. Such a breakdown could be caused either by an error in manual inputting or a failure of software.The finger of blame was pointed at telemetric directional data, which is the information conveyed to the missile needed to hit the target. Such a breakdown could be caused either by an error in manual inputting or a failure of software.
The missile, which was not carrying a nuclear warhead, was fired by HMS Vengeance, one of the UK’s four nuclear submarines, off the coast of Florida in June last year. The target, as during the previous test in 2012, was in the southern Atlantic off the coast of west Africa but instead the missile headed off in the direction of the US and the test was aborted.The missile, which was not carrying a nuclear warhead, was fired by HMS Vengeance, one of the UK’s four nuclear submarines, off the coast of Florida in June last year. The target, as during the previous test in 2012, was in the southern Atlantic off the coast of west Africa but instead the missile headed off in the direction of the US and the test was aborted.
This was the UK’s 11th test since 1994 with the other ten all successfully completed. The UK carries out fewer tests than the US on grounds of cost: each missile costs £17m. But the US, which has conducted an estimated 150 successful tests, shares data from its tests with the UK. This was the UK’s 11th test since 1994 with the other 10 all successfully completed. The UK carries out fewer tests than the US on grounds of cost: each missile costs £17m. But the US, which has conducted an estimated 150 successful tests, shares data from its tests with the UK.
The test-firing was intended to mark the return to duty of HMS Vengeance after a four-year refit. In spite of the malfunction, HMS Vengeance received the certification saying it was fully operational the same month, enabling it to return to service. The Ministry of Defence has cited this as evidence that the malfunction was not significant.The test-firing was intended to mark the return to duty of HMS Vengeance after a four-year refit. In spite of the malfunction, HMS Vengeance received the certification saying it was fully operational the same month, enabling it to return to service. The Ministry of Defence has cited this as evidence that the malfunction was not significant.
Russian satellites would have picked up the failed missile test. Russian spy ships normally monitor such tests and the US and UK navies treat their presence as part of the show. After the 2012 missile launch, the UK received a message from one of two Russian spy ships in the vicinity congratulating them on a successful launch.Russian satellites would have picked up the failed missile test. Russian spy ships normally monitor such tests and the US and UK navies treat their presence as part of the show. After the 2012 missile launch, the UK received a message from one of two Russian spy ships in the vicinity congratulating them on a successful launch.