The US – UK Polaris Agreement

During the Second World War, there was extensive British-American scientific collaboration, especially on the highly secret Manhattan Project, which resulted in the development of the atomic bomb. As part of the Quebec Agreement, the independent atomic weapons programs of Britain and America were combined in 1943. The McMahon Act, which limited access to American weaponry technology, was passed by Americans in 1946. Since then, the UK has advanced independently, creating thermonuclear bombs by 1957. The Americans developed the Polaris system for use in nuclear-powered submarines in the late 1950s, but the British lagged behind in developing a resilient nuclear deterrent system.

Polaris and the idea of reestablishing the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom had the endorsement of President John F. Kennedy. The Skybolt missile program, which was intended to use aircraft carrying the Skybolt missile to launch thermonuclear warheads, was abandoned by the US as a result of the early Polaris submarines' success. Early plans called for the UK to fund development for the weapons system while also purchasing the Skybolt system to strengthen their own deterrence. The Kennedy Administration suggested sharing Polaris with the Royal Navy after Skybolt was scrapped. While the UK supplied the submarines and its own warheads, the US agreed to sell the British Polaris missiles and launch system.

The source of Great Britain's autonomous nuclear deterrence program continues to be the Polaris Agreement, which was later modified to include Trident missiles. The Royal Navy has kept at least one nuclear-armed submarine on the open seas since 1966, giving the British government leverage in international negotiations as a legitimate nuclear state. For more than 50 years, British credibility as a nuclear power has been based on the Polaris Agreement between the United States and Her Majesty's Government. It will continue to unite the two powers for many years to come with modifications to include the Trident II missile and the Dreadnought class submarine.

• Year: 1962