RAF’s last nuclear weapon was extremely costly

The United Kingdom's Cold War nuclear defense strategy saw the deployment of the WE 177 nuclear weapon, which was the last operational nuclear weapon in the Royal Air Force (RAF) arsenal. The WE 177 program was launched in the early 1960s, with prototypes initially tested, leading to the introduction of the WE 177B variant in 1966, which became the first operational version of this weapon system. The WE 177B was engineered primarily as a strategic asset for both the RAF and the Royal Navy (RN) to complement the existing Polaris submarine-launched ballistic missile system. Notably, the WE 177B had a yield of 450 kilotons, marking it as a powerful fission bomb. However, its operational history indicated that the procurement and maintenance of the WE 177 turned out to be exceptionally expensive for the RAF, ultimately classifying it as the most costly weapon in its inventory. The WE 177's deployment underscored Britain's nuclear deterrent strategy during the Cold War, which sought to counter Soviet naval capabilities. The program concluded with the incorporation of variants designed for specialized roles, including a depth charge variant for naval pursuits. The final operational rounds of the WE 177 have been preserved for historical purposes, indicating the weapon's significance in military history and its endearing legacy in the context of Britain's Cold War military history. This commissioning and eventual retirement signified the closure of the RAF's tactical nuclear capability and reflected broader changes in military strategy towards nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom.