Is the West in terminal decline? The UK tested a very expensive missile for a second time — and it failed again! Some have called the British armed forces a “laughing stock".
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UK sub almost sinks itself with missile flop
Is the West in terminal decline? The UK tested a very expensive missile for a second time - and it failed again! Some have called the British armed forces a "laughing stock".
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What's happening?
The latest test of the UK's "world-class" nuclear deterrentNuclear weapons kept by a country as a warning to others not to attack. has quite literally fallen short. The missile landed in the sea close to the launch site.
It was supposed to travel 3,700 miles, but it only managed a few metres. For some, it is an embarrassing symbol of Britain's fall from power.
In the 1700s and 1800s, Britain had the strongest army in the world and the most powerful navyA part of a country's army that works at sea, often on ships or submarines. in history.
That seems like a long time ago now. One witness of the missile launch is believed to have said that it "left the submarine, but just went plop".
How does a £17m missile "just go plop"? And how does a £4bn nuclear submarine fail to launch it?
The Trident nuclear weaponsA bomb or other weapon that uses nuclear energy to cause a big explosion. system is supposed to protect Britain from any nation that might try to hurt it. But now Britain's enemies may be laughing.
Find out more
Why should people care? For some, Britain has always been a small island which thinks too highly about itself.
But others say that this is an important problem. We know that there are possible threats in the world, and that other countries like RussiaThe largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people. and ChinaA country in East Asia, home to 1.4 billion people. have huge amounts of power.
Meanwhile, Britain's friends in EuropeThe second-smallest of the world's continents. It has a population of 746 million. and the USAThe United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million. often seem to spend time arguing. Some say the West is losing its power throughout the world.
Is the West in terminal decline?
Yes! The failed missile launch is a sign of something much bigger. The West has not been able to adapt to the modern world. It no longer has the power it once did.
No! This is just one missile launch test. It is embarrassing, but experts say the failure would be unlikely to happen if it was needed in real life.
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Keywords
Nuclear deterrent - Nuclear weapons kept by a country as a warning to others not to attack.
Navy - A part of a country's army that works at sea, often on ships or submarines.
Nuclear weapons - A bomb or other weapon that uses nuclear energy to cause a big explosion.
Russia - The largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people.
China - A country in East Asia, home to 1.4 billion people.
Europe - The second-smallest of the world's continents. It has a population of 746 million.
USA - The United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million.
UK sub almost sinks itself with missile flop
Sea fiasco: An unarmed Trident II ballistic missile crashed into the sea shortly after launch. Glossary
Nuclear deterrent - Nuclear weapons kept by a country as a warning to others not to attack.
Navy - A part of a country's army that works at sea, often on ships or submarines.
Nuclear weapons - A bomb or other weapon that uses nuclear energy to cause a big explosion.
Russia - The largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people.
China - A country in East Asia, home to 1.4 billion people.
Europe - The second-smallest of the world's continents. It has a population of 746 million.
USA - The United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million.