A convoy “carrying multiple nuclear warheads” traveled some 600 kilometers across Britain to reach a weapons depot. The long line of lorries was traveling on the M6 near Kendal, a town in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, and was later seen on the M74 at Lesmahagow, south of Glasgow. The transport is considered routine but is taking place amid rising tensions around the world due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The convoy was monitored by Nukewatch UK, which tracks all movements of military weapons from Atomic Weapons Establishment Burghfield. According to the British news site, the increase in the number of nuclear warheads announced in the recent Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review started some time ago and may even be close to completion.
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In March 2021, the London government announced that the UK would move to a total nuclear stockpile of no more than 260 warheads. Nukewatch analysis shows that the number of stocks in UK stocks held in Coulport has slowly but steadily decreased over the period 20102015. However, as of 2015 this trend has reversed and there has been a net transfer of warheads, resulting in an increase in stocks held by the Royal Navy. From then on, AWE, the British Army’s flagship innovation test program, would begin supplying the update to the Trident warhead a SLBM embarked on Ohioclass SSBN submarines to the Royal Navy. Based on several studies, Nukewatch estimates that the UK’s nuclear stockpile has grown to around 250 warheads.