I think that this is missing the point a little - we lease all the nukes from the USA, they have an (in munition terms) very short shelf-life so there's a constant service/update shuffle going on to maintain "in-date" war heads.
So it's not independent from that perspective.
Secondly, we need permission from the US of A to fire the damn things - and given that we'd likely be firing them at Putin does anyone think that that permission is likely to be given by Putins favourite leader?
I think that this is missing the point a little - we lease all the nukes from the USA, they have an (in munition terms) very short shelf-life so there's a constant service/update shuffle going on to maintain "in-date" war heads.
So it's not independent from that perspective.
Secondly, we need permission from the US of A to fire the damn things - and given that we'd likely be firing them at Putin does anyone think that that permission is likely to be given by Putins favourite leader?