How much does Trident and the UK nuclear deterrent cost?
The MOD reports to Parliament each year on the nuclear programme. Its Defence Nuclear Enterprise 2026 annual update says the Dreadnought submarine programme, which replaces the Vanguard boats that carry Trident, is estimated at £41 billion (£31 billion plus £10 billion contingency), with £23.2 billion spent by March 2026.
The same update says the Defence Nuclear Enterprise spent £12 billion in 2025/26 and that £15 billion is committed to the warhead programme from 2025/26 to 2029/30. The 2021 Integrated Review set a cap of no more than 260 warheads.
Claims about Trident's cost vary widely because some count only the submarines, some add warheads, infrastructure and running costs, and some cover the whole life of the system over decades.
When is the next figure out?
MOD, FCDO and Home Office statistics are pre-announced on the GOV.UK research and statistics calendar and published at 9:30am. Personnel statistics come out quarterly; provisional aid figures in April and final ones in the autumn; NATO's tables usually appear around its summer summit. The terrorism powers release is moving to a six-monthly cycle.
Every official release due in the next two weeks is on the release calendar.
Where the figures come from
- Defence, foreign aid and counter-terrorism statistics (MOD, FCDO, NATO, OECD, Home Office)Where to find official UK defence spending, armed forces numbers, NATO comparisons, foreign aid (ODA), arms export licences and terrorism statistics.
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This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about defence, security and foreign aid: all Defence, security and foreign aid questions.