patth (Patt Haring) (08/22/89)
Ported from PeaceNET/GreenNET:
/* Written 11:31 pm Aug 21, 1989 by gn:mts in cdp:mts.press */
/* ---------- "523: Trident test failure" ---------- */
Media Transcription Service : Defence Information,
David & Susan Stott,
12 Sheri Drive, NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS,
Warrington. WA12 8PT
Telephone: Newton-le-Willows 0925 226647
GreenNet: "mts"
--------------------------------------------------
TRANSCRIPT Ref No. 523
BBC-1 Television - 9 p.m. News : Thursday, 17th August, 1989
Report featuring comment by Kenneth Adelman (ex ACDA)
re. Trident test failure
Presenter:
"The United States Navy has said there may be a serious design
fault which affects underwater launching of Trident nuclear
missiles. Yesterday the missile failed for a second time during sea
tests. Here a spokesman for the Royal Navy said Britain - which is
spending nine billion pounds on Trident - still expected the
missile to be in service by 1994."
Reporter (Jeremy Bowen):
"The Trident 2 missile is due to be deployed on American
submarines early next year, designed to be in service well into the
twenty-first century. The missile's problems became all too
apparent in March, the first time it was fired from a submarine.
(film)"
Kenneth Adelman:
"Well, there are certainly flaws in the Trident 2 missile but
that's why they do the testing in the first place. The test
programme is designed to see what works and what doesn't work on a
new missile system."
Reporter :
"But while modifications to a faulty nozzle on the rocket
motor meant Trident was tested successfully earlier this month, the
third attempt to launch it from a submarine this week failed. The
American Navy admits it seriously under-estimated the pressure on
the missile as it forces its way through the water. The difficulty
is that Trident 2 is twice the weight of its predecessor. The
modifications made to it haven't worked so, seconds after the
latest launch, the missile self-destructed. (film)
"Unlike other new weapons, Trident 2 has not been much
criticised by the politicians here on Capitol Hill but, if it is
expensive and difficult to put the missile's problems right, those
who believe America spends too much on over-complicated weapons
will not stay silent."
---- END OF TRANSCRIPT ----
Transcribed by: David & Susan Stott,
Media Transcription Service (Defence Information),
12 Sheri Drive, NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS, Warrington. WA12 8PT
---
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