"the UK developed an improved front-end" - can you find a better choice of words than front-end? Would 'nose cone' be appropriate or is that not entirely the same thing?
Front end is the technical term. Have a look at the picture of the Polaris Missile. You can see Chevaline Penetration Aid Carrier (PAC) behind the Re-entry Vehicle Carrier. (It's on its side.)
Hawkeye7(discuss)04:02, 1 April 2018 (UTC)reply
"that Polaris was as yet unproven, that Polaris would be expensive," - I'd simplify to "that Polaris was as yet untested and would be expensive"
"Chevaline's existence was revealed in January 1980" - can you expand on this? Was it deliberately revealed? If so, why did they suddenly decide to go public?
The Secretary of State for Defence, Francis Pym, deliberately revealed it in the House of Commons. It was in the context of debate about whether to replace Polaris with Trident. The public announcement enhanced Polaris's deterrent value. It also embarrassed the former Labour government.
Hawkeye7(discuss)04:02, 1 April 2018 (UTC)reply
" Adjusting for inflation, the programme cost less than originally envisaged" - adjusted for inflation, what is the cost equivalent to today?
£240 million in 1972 is worth about £2.78 billion in 2018; £1 billion in 1981 is about £3.2 billion; on Wikipedia we inflate research projects using GDP rather than CPI.
Hawkeye7(discuss)04:02, 1 April 2018 (UTC)reply
"the UK developed an improved front-end" - can you find a better choice of words than front-end? Would 'nose cone' be appropriate or is that not entirely the same thing?
Front end is the technical term. Have a look at the picture of the Polaris Missile. You can see Chevaline Penetration Aid Carrier (PAC) behind the Re-entry Vehicle Carrier. (It's on its side.)
Hawkeye7(discuss)04:02, 1 April 2018 (UTC)reply
"that Polaris was as yet unproven, that Polaris would be expensive," - I'd simplify to "that Polaris was as yet untested and would be expensive"
"Chevaline's existence was revealed in January 1980" - can you expand on this? Was it deliberately revealed? If so, why did they suddenly decide to go public?
The Secretary of State for Defence, Francis Pym, deliberately revealed it in the House of Commons. It was in the context of debate about whether to replace Polaris with Trident. The public announcement enhanced Polaris's deterrent value. It also embarrassed the former Labour government.
Hawkeye7(discuss)04:02, 1 April 2018 (UTC)reply
" Adjusting for inflation, the programme cost less than originally envisaged" - adjusted for inflation, what is the cost equivalent to today?
£240 million in 1972 is worth about £2.78 billion in 2018; £1 billion in 1981 is about £3.2 billion; on Wikipedia we inflate research projects using GDP rather than CPI.
Hawkeye7(discuss)04:02, 1 April 2018 (UTC)reply