Britain could conceivably upload the missiles to the current American standard of eight warheads on each missile, for 128 warheads per boat, but at the moment, it is more likely to deploy only 48-64, for three or four MIRVs per missile. The British will likely procure three boat loads of warheads, the same as was done for the four boat Poseidon force. Design was completed in 1972, however, the first British version did not become operational until 1982. The last of these in the nuclear role, the Vulcan, retired in 1982, with the Tornado assuming its nuclear delivery role. The first Tornados modified to carry nuclear weapons were based in Germany in 1984.
Today there are four nuclear-capable squadrons.
The GR.1A is actually a tactical reconnaisance variant, but retains the ability to carry nucear weapons. The first improved Tornados, which will be redesignated GR.4, were sheduled for completion by the end of 1996, with upgrades continuing through 1997. These enhancements are designed to keep the Tornado flying well into the 21st century. The WE 177 is Britain's nuclear gravity bomb. It entered service in 1966, replacing the Red Beard tactical bomb, and the Yellow Sun strategic bomb.