To deter any foe thinking of going to war with it, Britain adopted a policy of 'mutually assured destruction': you attack us, we'll attack you and we'll both be destroyed. To achieve this, however, the British had to have an atomic weapon and the means of delivering it to its target. In the subsequent arms race, nuclear weapons, jet aircraft and intercontinental ballistic missiles were all built and tested. However, each of Britain's 'super weapons' ultimately failed to fulfil its initial promise to turn the tide of history.

This website spells out the context of the arms race – the Cold War – and where Britain's weapons programme fitted in and why it was eventually abandoned. There is also information on how to take your interest further.