(War Risks) Act 1952 Empowers the UK government to reinsure British ships and aircraft against war risks and, when in the UK, cargo, foreign ships and aircraft. In the absence of an alternative, the government can also provide primary war risk insurance if the UK is at war. This is important as war risks cover in the commercial markets is subject to cancellation at short notice at time of war or terrorism. The government used its powers during the Gulf war and again following ‘September 11’. It formed a company, Troika, to provide war and terrorism cover for airlines and service providers pending the return of commercial reinsurers to the war risks market.