MODERNIZING THE U.S. NUCLEAR TRIAD

MODERNIZING THE U.S. NUCLEAR TRIAD PDF Author: Frank Klotz
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781977407603
Category : Intercontinental ballistic missiles
Languages : en
Pages : 56

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Book Description
Since the late 1950s, the United States has fielded a Triad consisting of air-, sea-, and land-based nuclear delivery systems. After decades of service, major components of all three legs are now nearing the end of their scheduled service lives. Several modernization programs are well underway, but the decision to replace the aging Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a new system, called the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), has catalyzed a debate over the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. national security policy and the composition and costs of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. This Perspective presents an overview of the principal arguments publicly advanced for and against continuing the GBSD program of record. Intended to assist Air Force officials' decisionmaking, it describes the role of the Triad in U.S. nuclear weapons policy, surveys the current strategic landscape, and outlines the major nuclear modernization programs of record, as well as describing and assessing the major objections related to fielding a new ICBM.

MODERNIZING THE U.S. NUCLEAR TRIAD

MODERNIZING THE U.S. NUCLEAR TRIAD PDF Author: Frank Klotz
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781977407603
Category : Intercontinental ballistic missiles
Languages : en
Pages : 56

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Book Description
Since the late 1950s, the United States has fielded a Triad consisting of air-, sea-, and land-based nuclear delivery systems. After decades of service, major components of all three legs are now nearing the end of their scheduled service lives. Several modernization programs are well underway, but the decision to replace the aging Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a new system, called the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), has catalyzed a debate over the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. national security policy and the composition and costs of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. This Perspective presents an overview of the principal arguments publicly advanced for and against continuing the GBSD program of record. Intended to assist Air Force officials' decisionmaking, it describes the role of the Triad in U.S. nuclear weapons policy, surveys the current strategic landscape, and outlines the major nuclear modernization programs of record, as well as describing and assessing the major objections related to fielding a new ICBM.

Modernizing U.S. Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications

Modernizing U.S. Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications PDF Author: David A. Deptula
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Command and control systems
Languages : en
Pages : 37

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Book Description
While the modernization of the systems that make up the nuclear triad are currently planned and now under debate, the fundamental underpinning for their success tends to get little attention. Specifically, the nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) system that allows positive control of these weapons in peace and, if necessary, in war is a crucial modernization requisite. It is these systems that define an architecture that coalesces in a coherent fashion all the activities, processes, and procedures performed by military commanders and support personnel that, through the chain of command, allow for senior-level decisions on nuclear weapons employment. As a result of the highly classified nature of these activities, little has been written about the NC3 architecture. The intent of this study is to illustrate, in an unclassified setting, America’s NC3 infrastructure in order to convey the absolute criticality of modernizing it. Only with a modernized NC3 system can we ensure that the U.S. retains a resilient and robust command and control architecture that is fundamental to the effectiveness of the nuclear triad. In this regard, the NC3 enterprise is truly the “fifth pillar” of the nation’s overall nuclear modernization program—together with modernization of the triad’s weapons systems, and the nuclear warhead stockpile itself. Simply put, when it comes to nuclear modernization, NC3 is the least expensive, yet perhaps the most critical.

Defending the Arsenal

Defending the Arsenal PDF Author: Adam B. Lowther
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 131546067X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 208

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Book Description
One important area of interest within military and policy circles focuses on an effort to revitalize the nuclear triad amidst a number of competing strategic interests. The difficulties arising from US engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan are leading many scholars and policy makers to question whether a reinvigorated nuclear triad has any role in deterring modern adversaries. This volume takes an unashamed pro-nuclear modernization position and argues for designing and fielding new nuclear warheads and delivery systems (submarine, ICBM, and bomber) while also arguing against signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty or agreeing to further reductions in the nuclear arsenal. It also argues that nuclear deterrence remains as relevant today, perhaps more, than it was during the Cold War. With so many authors advocating for "Global Zero" and highlighting perceived dangers from a nuclear arsenal, this work stands in stark contrast to the chorus of anti-arsenal works. Because of the work’s structure and effort to answer questions of current relevance, it should appeal to a broad audience including: service staffs, PME students, COCOM staffs, Pentagon personnel, Capitol Hill staffers, policy makers, academics, graduate students, and interested readers.

The Future of the U.S. Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Force

The Future of the U.S. Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Force PDF Author: Lauren Caston
Publisher: Rand Corporation
ISBN: 0833076264
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 185

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Book Description
The authors assess alternatives for a next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) across a broad set of potential characteristics and situations. They use the current Minuteman III as a baseline to develop a framework to characterize alternative classes of ICBMs, assess the survivability and effectiveness of possible alternatives, and weigh those alternatives against their cost.

The U.S. Nuclear Triad

The U.S. Nuclear Triad PDF Author: United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 15

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Book Description


The Case for Nuclear Modernization

The Case for Nuclear Modernization PDF Author: Lance A. Adsit
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Deterrence (Strategy)
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
"A unique challenge presents itself to the new Biden administration. Previous administrations had the luxury of procrastinating nuclear force modernization. It was easier to save the money, refurbish the minimum equipment required, and to trust that the nuclear force will continue to function the way it always has. The Biden administration does not have that option. Decades of fiscal neglect and siphoning budget away from the nuclear enterprise has taken its toll. The triad of the cold war has reached the end of its lifespan, and it requires modernization now for the US to remain a nuclear power. Weapons age, lack of replacement components, and modernizing enemy capability will begin to render the triad obsolete by the mid-2020s without continuing modernization. The Biden administration must modernize the nuclear triad or be forced to develop a new deterrence theory based on decreased nuclear capability. The nuclear deterrence theory that the US has used as a strategic foundation for decades requires a modern, effective nuclear triad. The choice to delay or not to modernize the nuclear force will require a new deterrence strategy to compensate for the loss of nuclear capability. This will affect the national defense strategy and the credibility the US has on the world stage with both allies and enemies. This paper will analyze the US nuclear force structure and compare it to the activity of competitors. It will also give an overview of US nuclear modernization efforts, the cost of those efforts compared to the defense budget, and explain why the choice to modernize is time sensitive. Readers will ultimately see that the Biden administration’s only logical option to mitigate risk of existential threats to the US is to modernize the nuclear triad."--Abstract.

The U. S. Nuclear Triad

The U. S. Nuclear Triad PDF Author: U. S. Government Accountability Office (
Publisher: BiblioGov
ISBN: 9781289159412
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 24

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Book Description
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent agency that works for Congress. The GAO watches over Congress, and investigates how the federal government spends taxpayers dollars. The Comptroller General of the United States is the leader of the GAO, and is appointed to a 15-year term by the U.S. President. The GAO wants to support Congress, while at the same time doing right by the citizens of the United States. They audit, investigate, perform analyses, issue legal decisions and report anything that the government is doing. This is one of their reports.

Modernizing the Nuclear Triad

Modernizing the Nuclear Triad PDF Author: Andrew F. Krepinevich (Jr.)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Ballistic missile defenses
Languages : en
Pages : 58

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Book Description
Current circumstances strongly support triad modernization. Likely shifts in the character of the strategic competition—both geopolitical and military technical—serve only to increase the value of proceeding. Indeed, given current trends it would, at the least, seem prudent to hedge against the prospect that some will quite likely play out. If so, the United States’ options for addressing such shifts in the threat environment would be greatly enhanced by maintaining a modern nuclear deterrent sustained by a healthy industrial base.

U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy

U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy PDF Author: William James Perry
Publisher: Council on Foreign Relations
ISBN: 0876094205
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 149

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Book Description
The report notes that in the near term nuclear weapons will remain a fundamental element of U.S. national security. For this reason it emphasizes the importance of maintaining a safe, secure, and reliable deterrent nuclear force and makes recommendations on this front. The report also offers measures to advance important goals such as preventing nuclear terrorism and bolstering the nuclear nonproliferation regime--Foreword.

The US Nuclear Triad: GAO's Evaluation of the Strategic Modernization Program

The US Nuclear Triad: GAO's Evaluation of the Strategic Modernization Program PDF Author: Eleanor Chelimsky
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 15

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Book Description