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Nuclear triad

May 21, 2023

A nuclear triad is a three-pronged military force structure that consists of land-launched nuclear missiles, nuclear-missile-armed submarines, and strategic aircraft with nuclear bombs and missiles.[1] Specifically, these components are land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and strategic bombers. The purpose of having this three-branched nuclear capability is to significantly reduce the possibility that an enemy could destroy all of a nation's nuclear forces in a first-strike attack. This, in turn, ensures a credible threat of a second strike, and thus increases a nation's nuclear deterrence.[2][3][4]

Traditional components of a strategic nuclear triad

The components of the nuclear triad
 
Bomber aircraft
 
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
 
Ballistic Missile Submarine

While traditional nuclear strategy holds that a nuclear triad provides the best level of deterrence from attack, in reality, most nuclear powers do not have the military budget to sustain a full triad. While only the United States and Russia have maintained strong nuclear triads for most of the nuclear age, there are other countries that have triad powers.[4][5] These countries include China, India, and France.[1] Both the United States and Russia have had the strongest, and longest-living triads.[1] These triads include the following components:

  1. Bomber aircraft: Aircraft carrying nuclear bombs, or nuclear-armed cruise missiles, for use against ground or sea targets.[2][6]
  2. Land-based missiles (MRBMs or ICBMs): Delivery vehicles powered by a liquid or solid-fueled rocket that primarily travel in a ballistic (free-fall) trajectory.[2][4][6]
  3. Ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs): Nuclear missiles launched from ships or submarines. They are classified under an umbrella of vessels and submarines that are capable of launching a ballistic missile.[6][2][4]

The triad gives countries a way to deliver a nuclear attack by land, sea or air. For the United States, the idea to have these three options was for the purpose of retaliation. If two of the three legs of the triad were destroyed, the third could still have a retaliatory strike. Also, having these three legs protects against the issue of new technology, like an enemy missile-defense system.[7] It also gives the commander-in-chief the flexibility to use different types of weapons for the appropriate strike while also maintaining a reserve of nuclear weapons safe from a counter-force strike.

  • Strategic bombers are the first leg of the triad. They have greater flexibility in their deployment and weaponry. Some of the many advantages of bombers are that they can be quickly deployed and recalled in response to last-minute decisions.[8] Since bombers are recallable, sending them away from a potential target is a highly visible way of demonstrating to enemies and allies that a nation wants to resolve a fight, thus preventing war.[9] Some disadvantages include confusion on the type of payload. Bombers can hold both nuclear and conventional weapons. During an event, an enemy could suspect that a conventionally-armed bomber was actually carrying a nuclear weapon, encouraging the enemy to attack the bomber or make a nuclear strike.[9] Furthermore, bombers that are scrambled might intensify tension and arouse suspicion of an upcoming nuclear strike.[9] Bombers can serve as both a first- and second-strike weapon. For example, a bomber armed with AGM-129 ACM missiles could be classified as a first-strike weapon and bombers that are classified as an aerial refueling aircraft would constitute as a second-strike weapon.[2][4] If dispersed in small airfields or aboard an aircraft carrier, they can reasonably avoid a counterstrike giving them regional second-strike capacity. Aircraft such as the Mirage 2000, F-15E, A-5 Vigilante, Sea Harrier, or FB-111 were tasked with land or sea-based strategic nuclear attack missions. Bombers that contain an aerial refueling fleet support intercontinental strategic operations for both heavy bombers and smaller aircraft. It also makes it possible for bombers to be alert and on standby, making these airborne assets nearly impossible to eliminate in a first strike.[10]
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) allow for a long-range strike launched from a controlled environment. These missiles can also be launched, and reach targets, faster than the other legs of the triad.[10] On top of these advantages, ICBMs are known as the most immediate leg of the triad. It offers militaries the ability to launch a nuclear attack more quickly than the other two options.[9] If launched from a fixed, unmovable position, such as a missile silo, they are vulnerable to a first strike, though their interception once aloft is substantially difficult.[2][4] Because firing an ICBM is an unmistakable act, they provide stronger clarity about when a country is under attack and who the attacker is. Some disadvantages of using ICBMs include weaker deterrence, compared to the other legs of the triad,[9] and vulnerability. ICBMs do not contribute as much nuclear deterrence as bombers or submarines because they cannot be forward-deployed in a particular location. While they are less expensive, they are still vulnerable.[9] Some ICBMs are mobile by either rail or road. Medium-range ballistic missiles and ground-launched cruise missiles were assigned to strategic targets but were eventually forbidden by an arms control treaty of the United States and Russia.
  • Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs), launched from submarines, allow for a greater chance of survival from a first strike, giving the commander a second-strike capability.[2][4] Because of its low detectability, quick mobility and concealment, SLBMs are almost invulnerable at sea.[8] An SLBM is the most difficult to get accurate targeting for as it requires a precise geographical fix on a target. As for the disadvantages of using these submarines, an attack on an SLBM could be from the work of uncertainty. They can be destroyed through purposeful fruition or operational accidents. These events would create confusion about whether or not this was a deliberate attack. Some long-range submarine-launched missiles are counted towards triad status.[8] Total cost of maintaining SLBM could get expensive as it is increased by costs of submarine force, crew size and deterrence patrols.[8][10]

Tactical nuclear weapons, also known as non-strategic nuclear weapons,[11] are used in air, land and sea warfare. Their primary use in a non-strategic war-fighting role is to destroy military forces in the battle area. But, depending on the target in today's nuclear age, they are not counted toward triad status because of the possibility that many of these systems could be used as strategic weapons. During the Cold War, it was easy to point out which nuclear weapons were tactical. Each type of weapon had different capabilities that were better suited for different missions.[11] Air-to-air missiles, rockets, surface-to-air missiles, small air-to-ground rockets, bombs, and precision munitions have been developed and deployed with nuclear warheads. Ground forces have included tactical nuclear artillery shells, surface-to-surface rockets, land mines, medium and small man-packable nuclear engineering demolition charges, and even man-carried or vehicle-mounted recoilless rifles. Naval forces have carried weapons that include nuclear-armed naval rockets, depth charges, torpedoes, and naval gunnery shells.

Triad powers

India

Main articles: Strategic Forces Command, Agni (missile), K Missile family, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and INS Arihant

India's nuclear weapons policy is that of "no first use" and "minimum credible deterrence," which means that the country will not use nuclear weapons unless they are attacked first, but the country does have the capability to induce the second strike. Before 2016, India already possessed land-based ballistic missiles and aircraft that are nuclear-capable.[12] India's land-based arsenal includes the Prithvi-1 with a range of 150 to 600 kilometres (93 to 373 mi), the Agni-1 with a range of 700 kilometres (430 mi), the Agni-2 with a range of 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi), Agni-P with a range of 1,000 to 2,000 kilometres (620 to 1,240 mi), Agni-3 with a range of 3,000, the Agni-4 with a range of 3,500 kilometres (2,200 mi), and the Agni-5 with a range of 5,000 kilometres (3,100 mi).[12] These are all intermediate-range ballistic missiles, but the Agni-5 is an intercontinental range ballistic missile. An intermediate-range ballistic missile has a range of 3,000 to 5,000 kilometres (1,900 to 3,100 mi) and intercontinental missiles are missiles with the ability to travel farther than 5,500 kilometres (3,400 mi).[13] In addition, the 5,000–8,000 kilometres (3,100–5,000 mi) range Agni-V ICBM was also successfully tested beginning April 2012[14] and was expected to enter service by 2016.[15]

The country currently has four types of bombers that are capable of carrying nuclear bombs. Land and air strike capabilities are under the control of Strategic Forces Command which is a part of Nuclear Command Authority. Their inventory of aircraft includes the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000H, SEPECAT Jaguar and Rafale, which was purchased from France.[12]

India completed its nuclear triad with the commissioning of INS Arihant in August 2016, which was India's first submarine built indigenously.[16][17][18][19][20][21] INS Arihant is a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine armed with 12 K-15 missiles with a range of 750 kilometres (470 mi),[22] which will later be upgraded K-4 missiles with an extended range of 3,500 kilometres (2,200 mi).[23][24][25] In November 2017, it tested the BrahMos missile from the Sukhoi-30 MKI platform.[26] The INS Arihant was the first SSBN to be completed under India's program. The INS Arighat is currently under construction and close to completion. This would be the second SSBN of the three underway to be finished. 2 more improved and bigger Arihant class submarines are under construction, and that will be followed by three 13000 tonnes S5-class submarine planned.[27] After the INS Arihant was completed, India now contained air-launched nuclear missiles, nuclear-missile-armed submarines and strategic aircraft with nuclear bombs and missiles. This allows the country to join the nuclear triad.

China

Main articles: PLA Rocket Force, Xian H-6, Type 094 submarine, and Type 092 submarine

Unlike the United States and Russia, where strategic nuclear forces are enumerated by treaty limits and subject to verification, China—a nuclear power since 1964—is not subject to these requirements. Instead, China currently has a triad structure smaller than those of Russia and the United States. China's nuclear force is closer in number and capability to those of France or the United Kingdom, making it much smaller than the American or Russian triads. The Chinese nuclear force consists mainly of land-based missiles, including ICBMs, IRBMs, tactical ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. Unlike the US and Russia, China stores large numbers of its missiles in massive tunnel complexes; U.S. Representative Michael Turner,[28] referring to 2009 Chinese media reports, said "This network of tunnels could be in excess of 5,000 kilometers (3,110 miles) and is used to transport nuclear weapons and forces.[29] The Chinese Army Newsletter calls this system of tunnels the Underground Great Wall of China.[30] China's nuclear warheads are believed to be stored in a central storage facility and not with the launchers.[31]

China currently has one Type 092 submarine which is currently active with JL-1 Submarine Launch Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) according to the Office of Naval Intelligence.[32][33] In addition, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has deployed four newer Type 094 submarines and plans to deploy up to eight of these Jin-class SSBN by the end of 2020.[34][35] The newer Type 094 fleet uses the newer JL-2 SLBM. The Chinese fleet carried out a series of successful JL-2 launches in 2009,[36] 2012[37][38] and 2015.[39] The United States expected the 094 SSBN to carry out its first deterrent patrol in 2015 with the JL-2 missiles active.[34] According to Pentagon report, China began to ensure that one nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine would always on stand by for deterrence around 2023.[40]

Although there is an aged, upgraded bomber force consisting of Xian H-6s with an uncertain nuclear delivery role. The PLAAF has a limited capability fleet of H-6 bombers modified for aerial refueling as well as forthcoming Russian Ilyushin Il-78 aerial refueling tankers.[41] China has also introduced a newer and modernized H-6 variant, the H-6K that has enhanced capabilities such as launching long ranged cruise missile the CJ-10. In addition to the H-6 bomber, there are numerous tactical fighter and fighter-bombers such as the J-16, J-10, JH-7A and Su-30 that are all capable of carrying nuclear weapons. It is estimated that China maintains an arsenal of about 250 nuclear warheads and that it has produced about 610 nuclear warheads since becoming a nuclear power in 1964. China is phasing out old liquid-fueled ballistic missiles and arming several new solid-fueled missiles. In the same estimate, it is believed that China has a small inventory of air-delivered nuclear bombs. As well as production is more than likely underway of new warheads for missiles to arm the Jin-class submarines.[31]

The U.S. intelligence community expects that China will increase their total number of warheads and long-range ballistic missiles from about 50 to exceed 100 in the next 15 years, this calculation has been sliding since 2001.[31] Since the end of the Cold War, China is suspected to have doubled their nuclear arsenal, while the other nuclear powers under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons have cut their forces in half.[42] A Pentagon report raises the possibility of China moving towards a more vigorous nuclear doctrine that will allow first use of nuclear weapons in times of war. While it is not expected that China will give up the current "no first use" policy in the near future, the Pentagon report raises concerns that "this issue has been and will continue to be debated in China. It remains to be seen, how the introduction of more capable and survivable nuclear systems in greater numbers will shape the terms of this debate or affect Beijing's thinking about nuclear options in the future."[43]

Russia

Main articles: Strategic Missile Troops, Long Range Aviation, Borei-class submarine, Typhoon-class submarine, and Delta-class submarine
 
 
 
Russia's nuclear triad – a Borei-class SSBN, an R-36M2 ICBM and a Tupolev Tu-22M strategic bomber

Also a nuclear power, Russia inherited the arsenal of all of the former Soviet states; this consists of silo-based as well as rail and road mobile ICBMs, sea-based SLBMs, strategic bombers, strategic aerial refueling aircraft, and long-range tactical aircraft capable of carrying gravity bombs, standoff missiles, and cruise missiles. The Russian Strategic Rocket Forces have ICBMs capable of delivering nuclear warheads: silo-based R-36M2 (SS-18), silo-based UR-100N (SS-19), mobile RT-2PM "Topol" (SS-25), silo-based RT-2UTTH "Topol M" (SS-27), mobile RT-2UTTH "Topol M" (SS-27), mobile RS-24 "Yars" (SS-29) (Future replacement for R-36 and UR-100N missiles). Russian strategic nuclear submarine forces are equipped with the following SLBMs:

The Russian Long Range Aviation operates supersonic Tupolev Tu-22M, and Tupolev Tu-160 bombers and the long range turboprop powered Tupolev Tu-95. They are all mostly armed with strategic stand off missiles or cruise missiles such as the KH-15 and the KH-55/Kh-102. These bombers and nuclear capable strike aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-24 are supported by Ilyushin Il-78 aerial refuelling aircraft.

The USSR was required to destroy its stock of IRBMs in accordance with the INF treaty.

Soviet nuclear triad during the Cold War

The Soviet Union developed their first nuclear bombs only a few years after the United States. The USSR entered the nuclear age in 1949 with their imitation of the American Fat Man plutonium implosion design. Although the Soviet Union was behind the U.S. in the years following World War II in terms of nuclear development, they soon closed the gap. By 1953, the U.S. successfully tested the world's first hydrogen bomb, Ivy Mike with a yield of about 10 MT. It was only two years later on 12 August 1955 that the Soviet Union successfully tested their own hydrogen bomb, the RDS-6 (known as Joe-4 in America). In addition, the development of stealth and fighter bombers by the USSR were heavily modeled on the American counterparts, the B-52 and B-47.

ICBMs

The development of the ICBM (Inter-continental Ballistic Missile) was led by the Soviet Union. The first-ever mid-range ballistic missile, R-5M, was created by the Soviet Union and accepted for military purposes on 21 July 1956. This missile had a range of 700 miles with a yield of 1 MT. From its acceptance in 1956 until 1968 there were 48 launchers with R-5M ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear warheads deployed by the Soviet Union.[44]

After the creation of ICBMs and improvements on distance and accuracy had been achieved, the modernization of the Soviet nuclear arsenal was undertaken. The first "shrapnel" MRVs (Multiple reentry vehicles) were successfully tested by 1970 with the R-36 (or SS-9) ICBM, and their deployment followed the next year. This meant that a single missile would now contain multiple nuclear warheads. Further development using the R-36 heavy ICBM type created the R-36M (SS-18). MRV's evolved into MIRVs, which did not function as dispersal devices, but rather allowed independent targets for the multiple nuclear warheads. MIRV as well as single warhead R-36 ICBMS were deployed by the Soviet Union in 1975. The next generation of the Soviet ICBM was the R-36M UTTH, which increased the accuracy of the warhead and allowed for innovations that allowed the missiles to carry up to 8 warheads. The final improved generated the R-36M2 Voevoda, which allowed even more accurate attacks and increased the number of warheads to 10. Some "light" ICBMs developed by the Soviet Union included the UR-100N (SS-19) and the MR-UR-100 (SS-17), with lower launch weights and fewer warhead capabilities. MRVs, unlike MIRVs which allowed for independent targeting, had a downside known as the "fratricide effect", which refers to the inability to distance multiple warheads from each other, allowing the chance for the initial explosion to destroy the other warheads.[45]

By 1975, there were around 1600 ICBM launchers deployed by the Soviet Union. Not only did this number exceed American estimates, but the addition of MRVs and MIRVs further amplified the destructive capabilities of Soviet ICBMs. These launchers also utilized the increases in accuracy and range from the SS-17, SS-18, SS-19 ICBM silo-based types. One final advent to the Soviet Union's development of ICBMs was the mobile-launcher SS-20 type.[46]

MIRVs were not mentioned in the SALT I treaty (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) between the US and USSR in 1972, and consequently were insignificantly limited in the SALT II treaty of 1979. As a result, the increase in ICBM launchers and nuclear warheads continued by both countries. It is thought that the Soviet Union attained an advantage regarding ICBMs by the late 1970s.[47]

SLBMs
 
The Project 629 submarines was amongst the first to be capable of launching ballistic missiles

The Soviet Union also led the way in the development of the third part of the nuclear triad, SLBM's. They launched the first SLBM, with an R-11FM ballistic missile in 1956, and in 1957 introduced submarines with two R-11FM's in 1957.[48] However, these early submarines had to be surfaced in order to launch their missiles. It is in this aspect that the US became the leader when they deployed the first SSBN, USS George Washington (SSBN-598), in 1959 with Polaris A-1 missiles able to be launched underwater. However, the first successful underwater launch of a ballistic missile was in July 1960. It was not until 1963 that the Soviet Union was able to match the US in this regard, with an R-21 missile. There was also a considerable gap between the United States employment of MRVs and MIRVs on SLBMs to that of the Soviets, which the US had achieved as early as 1964. In 1974, the USSR deployed SS-N-6, the first Soviet SSBN with shrapnel MRV nuclear warheads. Three years later, the Soviet Navy deployed their first SLBM with MIRV warheads, the SS-N-18 missile[45]

These technologies comprise a majority of the nuclear advances made by the Soviet Union from the 1950s–1970s. As the 1980s came about, the new technology of cruise-missiles significantly altered deterrence strategies in both the US and Soviet Union. At this point, the nuclear triad maintained its importance in ensuring a second-strike capability, although this significance has waned dramatically since the end of the Cold War.

United States

Main article: Nuclear weapons of the United States

Nuclear triad during the Cold War (1960–1990)

 
 
 
The elements of the US nuclear triad in the 1960s – a George Washington-class SSBN, an LGM-25C Titan II ICBM and a B-52G Stratofortress strategic bomber

The origins of the United States' nuclear triad can be traced back to the 1960s. Its main motivation for developing the program was that the Navy, Army, and Air Force all wanted to play a role in the operation of the country's nuclear arsenal.[49] The United States also desired the nuclear triad because it would give them a variety of platforms to deliver a deadly strike to the Soviet Union. Forcing the Soviet Union to put focus on potential attacks from the land, air, and sea would give the United States a significant advantage in terms of deterrence. Specifically, the nuclear triad was viewed as a way to complicate Soviet first strike and attack planning as well as ensure the survivability of U.S. assets.[49]

Throughout the 1960s, the United States steadily commissioned increasing numbers of delivery vehicles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. In 1967, the greatest number of deployment ready delivery vehicles of the decade was recorded at 2,268.[49] In 1970, a significant change brought about a dramatic increase in the nuclear arsenal. The 1970s saw a large increase in delivery vehicles and warheads because of the introduction of the multiple independent reentry vehicle or MIRV, which allowed for the deployment of ICBMs and SLBMs that could carry multiple warheads.[49] Up until 1990 and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with the Soviet Union, the number of delivery vehicles possessed by the United States hovered between 1,875 and 2,200.[49]

ICBMs were viewed by the United States as the means to attack hardened targets within the Soviet Union such as underground bunkers. Stored in underground silos, these long range missiles were accurate and could be fired quickly. During the Cold War, the United States maintained multiple different types of ICBMs. This portion of the triad consisted of Minuteman II missiles (single warhead), Minuteman III missiles (three-warhead), and Peacekeeper missiles (ten-warhead). The ICBM count for the United States in 1990 included 2,450 warheads in 1,000 ICBMs.[49]

In terms of submarine launched missiles, the United States utilized various classes of submarines as the delivery vehicles. Missile submarines played an especially important role in terms of strategic deterrence. These submarines were extremely hard to locate and could be positioned right off of enemy coastlines. In terms of the nuclear triad, this leg was meant to be the most survivable. The United States commissioned various classes of submarines throughout the Cold War as new improvements were made to each class. The first submarines to carry nuclear weapons were a collection of five boats equipped with the SSM-N-8 Regulus cruise missile, which were employed in the Pacific as part of the regular strategic deterrent from 1959 to 1964. The Regulus boats were essentially a stop-gap until sufficient ballistic missile submarines became available. Referred to as the "41 for Freedom," the George Washington, Ethan Allen, Lafayette, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin classes were all commissioned between 1959 and 1967.[50] These classes of submarines carried Polaris A-1/A-2/A-3, Poseidon C-3 and Trident C-4 missiles. Along with the "41 for Freedom" classes, the United States also commissioned the Ohio-class submarines before the Cold War's end. Ohio-class submarines carried Trident C-4 and Trident D-5 missiles. In 1990, the United States was in possession of around 600 SLBMs and 5,216 warheads.[49]

Rounding out the United States' nuclear triad during the Cold War were its long-range bombers. The leg of the nuclear triad was the most versatile since bombers could be moved quickly and recalled if necessary to avoid unnecessary strikes. The U.S. bomber force during the Cold War consisted of B-52H and B-52G Stratofortresses, B-1 Lancers, and the newly commissioned B-2 Spirits. By 1990, the United States possessed 94 B-52H bombers, 96 B-1 bombers, and 2 B-2 bombers, along with a total of almost 5,000 available weapons.[49]

Nuclear triad after the Cold War (1990–2010)

 
 
 
The elements of the post-Cold War US nuclear triad: an Ohio-class SSBN, an LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM, and a B-2 Spirit strategic bomber

The pinnacle of the 1990s in terms of global nuclear policy was the START Treaty in 1991 and the START II Treaty in 1993. These treaties called for the reduction of nuclear warheads and delivery systems within both the Soviet Union and the United States. Specifically, the U.S. was limited to 6,000 total warheads, 4,900 warheads on ballistic missiles, and 1,600 delivery vehicles.[49] Consequentially, the United States began reducing both its warhead and delivery vehicle counts during this time. By the time they had completed the implementation of the START Treaty in 2001, the total warhead count was 6,196 and the total delivery system count was 1,064.[49] These values continued to shrink, and by 2009 the United States reduced its warhead and delivery vehicles counts to 2,200 and 850 respectively.[49]

Following the Cold War, the United States continued upgrading its various types of ICBMs. Minuteman II variants were all but eliminated and continued efforts were put toward Minuteman III and Peacekeeper variants. In 2001, the United States possessed 500 Minuteman III missiles (three warheads each) and 50 Peacekeeper missiles (ten warheads each).[49]

Within its nuclear submarine fleet, the United States eliminated the usage of the "41 for Freedom" classes of ballistic missiles submarines in favor of the more versatile Ohio class. During the 1990s, the United States reached a total of 18 submarines within this class.[49] In 2001, these 18 submarines were all deployable and could carry 24 Trident II missiles each (6 to 8 warheads on each missile).[49]

The United States kept up to date with its strategic bomber leg of the triad following the Cold War as well. B-52G variants were phased out in favor of B-52H classes. In 2001, 94 B-52H bombers, each capable of carrying 20 cruise missiles, were active along with 21 B-2 bombers each capable of carrying 16 bombs.[49] B-1 Lancer bombers were phased out of the triad and reoriented for different missions in an effort to honor the delivery systems limitations set by the START Treaties.

Modern nuclear triad (2010–present)

The Obama Administration made clear in the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) that the United States will retain a nuclear triad for the foreseeable future.[49] Each leg was still viewed as necessary because of how they strengthened each other's weaknesses and gave the United States plenty of options for a nuclear strike should one or multiple legs go down. Following the New START Treaty set into place in 2010, the United States continued reducing its numbers of warheads and delivery systems with a focus on modernizing and updating its most effective platforms. The United States has released a plan to complete its downsizing efforts in 2018, reducing its 2010 numbers of 880 delivery vehicles and 2,152 warheads to 800 delivery vehicles and 1,550 warheads.[49] In their release of the 2017 NPR, the Trump Administration made clear that the United States supports global nuclear weapons elimination. President Donald Trump also stated his intent to keep the US safe, as well as allies and partners. Until a time where nuclear weapons are no longer needed, the Trump Administration has also stated its intent to maintain a "modern, flexible, and resilient" nuclear armada. Since the height of the Cold War, the US's nuclear armada has been reduced by over 85 percent. The Trump Administration acknowledges it faces a "more diverse and advanced nuclear-threat environment than ever before."[51]

It is estimated that the US currently has around 475 B-61 and B-83 bombs. The B61-7 is carried by the B-2, whereas the B61-3, 4, and 10 are lighter and can be carried by the F-16, F-35, and other light aircraft. These smaller bombs also yield smaller payloads due to their decreased size. The B61-11 is a more hardened bomb that can be used to destroy hardened targets such as bunkers, however it is unlikely that it can penetrate steel or concrete. The B83 is currently the largest bomb in the US arsenal. The US plans to retire it by the year 2025 after the new B61 LEP is completed.[49]

 
The Columbia-class is planned as the United States' new SSBN, replacing the Ohio-class
 
The B-21 Raider. This aircraft will serve as the new long range bomber for the United States, replacing the B-52H and B-2 bombers.

The United States continues to operate its Minuteman III ICBMs (three warheads each) from underground hardened silos under the command of U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command. The Peacekeeper variants were eliminated to allow for the United States to honor the reduction requirements set forth by the New START Treaty. By February 2015, the United States Air Force had deactivated all missiles of this type and filled the silos containing them with gravel.[49] The U.S. Minuteman III ICBMs are spread between three Air Force bases which are Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, and Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota with each of these bases in possession of 150 missiles.[49] Multiple programs have been put into place and are currently in place to work on up-keeping and modernizing the United States ICBM force including the Propulsion Replacement Program, Guidance Replacement Program, Propulsion System Rocket Engine Program, Safety Enhanced Reentry Vehicle (SERV), Solid Rocket Motor Warm Line Program, Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting (REACT) Service Life Extension Program, and Fuse Replacement Programs. The Air Force plans to keep the Minuteman III program viable and updated through 2030 and is in the process of developing a potential replacement in the form of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) through various companies such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.[49]

The ballistic missile submarine leg of the United States' nuclear triad is still robust. Currently, the SSBN fleet consists of 14 Ohio-class submarines each capable of carrying 24 Trident II missiles.[49] These ballistic missile submarines are based out of Kings Bay, Georgia, and Bangor, Washington. The New START Treaty has led the United States to reduce the number of missiles carried on each submarine from 24 to 20 and these reductions have been reached in 2018. In the early 2000s, the United States possessed 18 Ohio-class submarines. Following START Treaty protocol, the United States enacted various programs to reach the treaty's requirements. The Backfit Program was utilized to eliminate the submarines that still carried Trident I missiles leaving the United States with Ohio-class submarines that only carried Trident II missiles.[49] This reduction led to the conversion of four SSBNs to SSGNs. SSGNs are guided missile submarines which carry conventional Tomahawk cruise missiles. Currently, the United States plans to begin retiring the Ohio-class submarines in 2027. That being said, a replacement for the Ohio class, the Columbia-class submarine, is currently being developed with the first submarine scheduled to enter service in 2031.[49]

The strategic bomber program for the United States still remains viable as well. B-2 and B-52H bombers still make up the entirety of the long range bomber force designed to deliver a nuclear payload. The Rockwell B-1 Lancer is also used for long range bombing missions. However, in 1997, it was modified to carry only conventional payloads. The B-1 Lancer is no longer used to deliver nuclear payloads. Currently, 76 B-52H bombers are maintained at bases in Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, and Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. Along with these, 20 B-2 bombers are in service at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. The United States Air Force is in the process of integrating a new long range bomber, the B-21 Raider, into service. This aircraft is scheduled to begin service in 2025.[49] The B-21 is expected to have increased range and lower cost, though the details are classified. In 1997, the average cost of a B-2 was $737 million. The projected average cost for the B-21 Raider is $550 million per plane.[52]

Long-Range Standoff, or LRSO weapons are another active option available to the US. Air-Launched cruise missiles (ALCM) and Advanced Cruise Missiles (ACM) are the missiles currently maintained by the Air Force. Both are carried via the B-52 bomber. The ACM's most current design makes it have higher stealth capabilities than the ALCM. In 2006, the US had 1,142 ALCMs and 394 ACMs. Since then, the number of ALC missiles has been reduced to 528. By 2030, the Air Force plans to phase out the ALCM and replace them with the long range standoff (LRSO) cruise missile.[49]

United States Strategic Command is responsible for strategic nuclear deterrence, global strike, and operating the Defense Department's Global Information Grid.

Former triad powers

France

During the Cold War, France obtained ballistic missile submarines, land-based missiles, and nuclear-armed bombers. France was the fourth country to maintain a nuclear triad. In February 1960, France performed its first nuclear weapons test codenamed "Gerboise Bleue", meaning Blue Jerboa.[53] In 1955, the country started Project Coelacanth, the naval nuclear propulsion program.[53] Their first attempt to build a nuclear ballistic missile submarine, Q.244, failed and was cancelled in 1959.[53] The development of the land based reactor, PAT 1, allowed for Q.252 to be successful. The development of Q.252 led to the submarine Le Redoutable. The French produced the Mer-Sol Balistique Strategique, or M1 MSBS, a "submarine-launched ballistic missile".[53] Between 1971 and 1980, France finished their first generation of nuclear ballistic missile submarines, which included all five submarines in Le Redoutable and the one L'Inflexible submarine. Of the five submarines in the Le Redoutable class, only one submarine contained an M-2 missile, the Le Foudroyant; The M-1 missile was put on the Le Redoutable and Le Terrible; two ships contained both M-2 missiles and M-20 missiles. The L'Inflexible contained M4 missiles.[53] At this time, The Force Océanique Stratégique, the country's submarine fleet, contained 87 percent of the country's entire nuclear weaponry.[53] Between 1986 and 2010, the country began work on their second generation of nuclear ballistic missile submarines, which included the Triomphant, the Téméraire, the Vigilant, and the Terrible.[53] The Triumphant class of ships contained the M45 intermediate-range missile. The Terrible submarine contained the M51 missile.[53]

Modern capabilities

Today, France's national security is based on deterrence. Since the Cold War, France has scaled down their weapons program; the budget for nuclear forces has been reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent; they stopped work on ground-launched ballistic missiles; nuclear testing sites have shut down; and their total ballistic missile submarine arsenal has been lowered from five to four.[54]

While France has drastically reduced its nuclear arsenal, it currently maintains approximately 300 nuclear weapons.[55] France deploys four Le Triomphant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) on the Atlantic Coast. Out of the four, one is deployed at all times and the other three are on standby at all times. France is in the process of upgrading its current SLBMs to a newer model. The most recent addition to the French submarine fleet came in September 2010 in the form of Le Terrible, which is equipped with the newer model of SLBMs. France plans to modernize the rest of its submarine fleet by 2020.[56][needs update]

As far as air-capabilities are concerned, France maintains four separate fighter squadrons meant to act as a deterrence against foreign threats. There are 23 Mirage 2000N aircraft and 20 Rafale aircraft equipped with ASMP-air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM). The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier also maintains approximately 24 Rafale M aircraft. The Rafale M aircraft, as well as the Mirage 2000N K3 aircraft, is equipped with an upgraded ASMP-A air-launched cruise missile with a range of 500 kilometers. In February 2015, Francois Hollande, the President of France at the time, declared that "France possesses 54 ASMP-A missiles", confirming their exact number of missiles.[56]

Suspected triad powers

Israel

Main articles: Jericho (missile), Popeye Turbo, and F-15I

Israel as a country and its citizens neither confirm nor deny the possession of nuclear weapons, as a national policy, but the existence of a nuclear force is often hinted at blatantly. Evidence of an advanced weapons program including miniaturized as well as thermonuclear devices has been presented, especially with the extensive photographic evidence given by former Israeli nuclear weapons assembler Mordechai Vanunu in 1986. Since the 1960s, in Dimona, they have operated a nuclear reactor and an underground plutonium-separation plant. The US Defense Intelligence Agency concluded in 1999 that Israel had produced approximately 80 warheads, and projected that their stockpile would moderately increase by 2020.[31] They are currently estimated to have produced enough nuclear material for 115 to 190 warheads.[31] Israel has been reported in a congressional testimony by the United States Department of Defense of having aircraft-delivered nuclear weapons as early as the mid-1960s, a demonstrated missile-based force also since the mid-1960s, an IRBM in the mid-1980s, an ICBM in the early 2000s[57] and they are suspected of having second-strike capabilities with the arrival of the Dolphin-class submarine and Popeye Turbo submarine-launched cruise missile.

Israel maintains an inventory of nuclear-capable fighter aircraft such as the long-range F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 and previously the F-4 Phantom, Dassault Mirage III, A-4 Skyhawk and the Nesher. Israel has a considerable and growing number of long-range tanker aircraft and aerial refueling capacity on its long-range fighter-bomber aircraft. This capacity was used in the 1985 long-range conventional strike against the PLO in Tunisia.[58]

In a report by London's Sunday Times in June 2000, a missile test was reported. This being the only public evidence of a nuclear version of a single missile being tested off the coast of Sri Lanka.[59] According to an official report that was submitted to the United States Congress in 2004,[57] it may be that the Jericho 3 with a payload of 1,000 kg that allows Israel to have nuclear strike capabilities within the entire Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and almost all parts of North America, as well as within large parts of South America and Northern Oceania. Israel also has a regional reach with its Jericho 2 IRBM force.

While the Persian Gulf War was beginning in 1991, Germany agreed to subsidize the sale of two Dolphin-class diesel-powered submarines to Israel: there was a total of six submarines that were ordered and three have been delivered so far by the Germans.[59] Jane's Defence Weekly reports that the Israeli Dolphin-class submarines are widely believed to be nuclear armed, offering Israel a second-strike capability with a demonstrated range of at least 1500 km in a 2002 test.[60][61]

Israel is known to have nuclear-capable aircraft and land-base missiles, with the addition of nuclear-armed submarines this would mean that they now have a full triad of land-, air-, and sea-based nuclear delivery systems[31] some of which would be invulnerable to a first strike by an enemy for the first time in their country's history. No other nation in the Middle East in known to be in possession of nuclear weapons, even though Iran, Iraq, Syria and Libya have started development programs that were never completed.[59]

Other nuclear delivery systems

 
Air Mobile ICBM Feasibility Demonstration—24 October 1974

Nuclear delivery systems are not limited to those covered in the Nuclear Triad. Other methods of delivery could include orbital weapons, nuclear torpedo and hypersonic glide vehicles. The Outer Space Treaty bans these types of weapons from outer space. The treaty states that "the moon and other celestial bodies shall be used for peaceful purposes only"[62] Although the treaty bans the use of nuclear weapons in space, the technology that is in space allows for potential military use. Both GPS and satellite technology can be used for military purposes, which are not the intended use for them. GPS can be used for missile and bomb direction and satellite technology can be used to gather information about other countries.[62] The possibility of these technologies being utilized incorrectly increases the probability of a war conducted in space.

A nuclear torpedo is essentially a torpedo with a warhead attached to it. Russia is currently working on undersea nuclear torpedo, which is referred to as the Poseidon (Status-6), according to the Pentagon.[63] This thermonuclear warhead has the potential to hit any United States coast and radioactively contaminate the coastal regions.[64] The innovative missile is a concern to the United States, because there is potential for the missile to not be stopped by the country's ballistic missile defenses. Initial reports of Status-6 were not confirmed, but it has now been confirmed that weapon is real and capable.

Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) are capable of containing nuclear warheads, and therefore could be used in strikes against nuclear assets. HGVs were developed to be lightweight, to travel at faster speeds, and to travel in the atmosphere. The difference between ICBMs and HGVs is that HGVs are designed to be powered by the oxygen in the atmosphere, while ICBMs have fuel on board; the fuel on board is heavy. Their ability to attack fast over long distance and hide from radars enables this technology to have the potential to be used as nuclear weapons.[63]

Redefining the nuclear triad

William Perry, who served as the 19th United States Secretary of Defense, has spoken for the removal of the land-based missiles from the nuclear triad. Perry believes that ICBMs are turning more into liabilities than assets. Perry says it would save "considerable cost" and would prevent an accidental nuclear war. Perry had experienced a false alarm for an incoming missile which later turned out to be a computer error.[citation needed] Perry's experience occurred 40 years ago, but similar false alarms have occurred since then, such as the 2018 Hawaii False Missile Alert. Perry says that a major problem with ICBMs is that they cannot be recalled once launched in the event of a false alarm.[citation needed]

American political scientist Matthew Kroenig has spoken against the removal of the land-based missiles leg of the nuclear triad. Kroenig writes that ICBMs offer defense from a pre-emptive nuclear strike. If the US had hundreds of ICBMs all over the US then this first attack would be a "near-insurmountable task."[65] Kroenig writes that these ICBMs could save "millions of American lives".[65] A study estimated that if the US were to keep its ICBMs, a Russian nuclear attack would result in 70 million US casualties, whereas if the US were to remove its ICBMs, that number increases to 125 million US casualties.[66] Kroenig also writes that the risk of accidental launch is less than the benefit of keeping ICBMs.[65] Also, Kroenig says "If ICBMs are truly expendable, then there is no reason to risk an accidental nuclear war just to avoid losing them."[65][further explanation needed] Kroenig also writes that ICBMs are the least costly leg of the triad.[65] The annual operating cost of ICBMs is $1.4 billion for ICBMs, compared to $1.8 billion for bombers and $3.8 billion for SLBMs.[67]

The U.S. Department of Defense defends the current triad, stating that "Without ICBMs, a conventional-only attack on the limited number of submarine and bomber bases could significantly degrade the U.S. nuclear arsenal without rising to the level of nuclear use. This significantly lowers the threshold for an attack against the U.S. homeland. Also, the Triad's diversity enables mitigation of risk if a particular leg of the Triad is degraded or unavailable."[68]

See also

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May 21, 2023
nuclear, triad, nuclear, triad, three, pronged, military, force, structure, that, consists, land, launched, nuclear, missiles, nuclear, missile, armed, submarines, strategic, aircraft, with, nuclear, bombs, missiles, specifically, these, components, land, base. A nuclear triad is a three pronged military force structure that consists of land launched nuclear missiles nuclear missile armed submarines and strategic aircraft with nuclear bombs and missiles 1 Specifically these components are land based intercontinental ballistic missiles ICBMs submarine launched ballistic missiles SLBMs and strategic bombers The purpose of having this three branched nuclear capability is to significantly reduce the possibility that an enemy could destroy all of a nation s nuclear forces in a first strike attack This in turn ensures a credible threat of a second strike and thus increases a nation s nuclear deterrence 2 3 4 Contents 1 Traditional components of a strategic nuclear triad 2 Triad powers 2 1 India 2 2 China 2 3 Russia 2 3 1 Soviet nuclear triad during the Cold War 2 3 1 1 ICBMs 2 3 1 2 SLBMs 2 4 United States 2 4 1 Nuclear triad during the Cold War 1960 1990 2 4 2 Nuclear triad after the Cold War 1990 2010 2 4 3 Modern nuclear triad 2010 present 3 Former triad powers 3 1 France 3 1 1 Modern capabilities 4 Suspected triad powers 4 1 Israel 5 Other nuclear delivery systems 6 Redefining the nuclear triad 7 See also 8 ReferencesTraditional components of a strategic nuclear triad EditThe components of the nuclear triad Bomber aircraft Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Ballistic Missile Submarine While traditional nuclear strategy holds that a nuclear triad provides the best level of deterrence from attack in reality most nuclear powers do not have the military budget to sustain a full triad While only the United States and Russia have maintained strong nuclear triads for most of the nuclear age there are other countries that have triad powers 4 5 These countries include China India and France 1 Both the United States and Russia have had the strongest and longest living triads 1 These triads include the following components Bomber aircraft Aircraft carrying nuclear bombs or nuclear armed cruise missiles for use against ground or sea targets 2 6 Land based missiles MRBMs or ICBMs Delivery vehicles powered by a liquid or solid fueled rocket that primarily travel in a ballistic free fall trajectory 2 4 6 Ballistic missile submarines SSBNs Nuclear missiles launched from ships or submarines They are classified under an umbrella of vessels and submarines that are capable of launching a ballistic missile 6 2 4 The triad gives countries a way to deliver a nuclear attack by land sea or air For the United States the idea to have these three options was for the purpose of retaliation If two of the three legs of the triad were destroyed the third could still have a retaliatory strike Also having these three legs protects against the issue of new technology like an enemy missile defense system 7 It also gives the commander in chief the flexibility to use different types of weapons for the appropriate strike while also maintaining a reserve of nuclear weapons safe from a counter force strike Strategic bombers are the first leg of the triad They have greater flexibility in their deployment and weaponry Some of the many advantages of bombers are that they can be quickly deployed and recalled in response to last minute decisions 8 Since bombers are recallable sending them away from a potential target is a highly visible way of demonstrating to enemies and allies that a nation wants to resolve a fight thus preventing war 9 Some disadvantages include confusion on the type of payload Bombers can hold both nuclear and conventional weapons During an event an enemy could suspect that a conventionally armed bomber was actually carrying a nuclear weapon encouraging the enemy to attack the bomber or make a nuclear strike 9 Furthermore bombers that are scrambled might intensify tension and arouse suspicion of an upcoming nuclear strike 9 Bombers can serve as both a first and second strike weapon For example a bomber armed with AGM 129 ACM missiles could be classified as a first strike weapon and bombers that are classified as an aerial refueling aircraft would constitute as a second strike weapon 2 4 If dispersed in small airfields or aboard an aircraft carrier they can reasonably avoid a counterstrike giving them regional second strike capacity Aircraft such as the Mirage 2000 F 15E A 5 Vigilante Sea Harrier or FB 111 were tasked with land or sea based strategic nuclear attack missions Bombers that contain an aerial refueling fleet support intercontinental strategic operations for both heavy bombers and smaller aircraft It also makes it possible for bombers to be alert and on standby making these airborne assets nearly impossible to eliminate in a first strike 10 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles ICBMs allow for a long range strike launched from a controlled environment These missiles can also be launched and reach targets faster than the other legs of the triad 10 On top of these advantages ICBMs are known as the most immediate leg of the triad It offers militaries the ability to launch a nuclear attack more quickly than the other two options 9 If launched from a fixed unmovable position such as a missile silo they are vulnerable to a first strike though their interception once aloft is substantially difficult 2 4 Because firing an ICBM is an unmistakable act they provide stronger clarity about when a country is under attack and who the attacker is Some disadvantages of using ICBMs include weaker deterrence compared to the other legs of the triad 9 and vulnerability ICBMs do not contribute as much nuclear deterrence as bombers or submarines because they cannot be forward deployed in a particular location While they are less expensive they are still vulnerable 9 Some ICBMs are mobile by either rail or road Medium range ballistic missiles and ground launched cruise missiles were assigned to strategic targets but were eventually forbidden by an arms control treaty of the United States and Russia Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles SLBMs launched from submarines allow for a greater chance of survival from a first strike giving the commander a second strike capability 2 4 Because of its low detectability quick mobility and concealment SLBMs are almost invulnerable at sea 8 An SLBM is the most difficult to get accurate targeting for as it requires a precise geographical fix on a target As for the disadvantages of using these submarines an attack on an SLBM could be from the work of uncertainty They can be destroyed through purposeful fruition or operational accidents These events would create confusion about whether or not this was a deliberate attack Some long range submarine launched missiles are counted towards triad status 8 Total cost of maintaining SLBM could get expensive as it is increased by costs of submarine force crew size and deterrence patrols 8 10 Tactical nuclear weapons also known as non strategic nuclear weapons 11 are used in air land and sea warfare Their primary use in a non strategic war fighting role is to destroy military forces in the battle area But depending on the target in today s nuclear age they are not counted toward triad status because of the possibility that many of these systems could be used as strategic weapons During the Cold War it was easy to point out which nuclear weapons were tactical Each type of weapon had different capabilities that were better suited for different missions 11 Air to air missiles rockets surface to air missiles small air to ground rockets bombs and precision munitions have been developed and deployed with nuclear warheads Ground forces have included tactical nuclear artillery shells surface to surface rockets land mines medium and small man packable nuclear engineering demolition charges and even man carried or vehicle mounted recoilless rifles Naval forces have carried weapons that include nuclear armed naval rockets depth charges torpedoes and naval gunnery shells Triad powers EditIndia Edit Main articles Strategic Forces Command Agni missile K Missile family Sukhoi Su 30MKI and INS Arihant India s nuclear weapons policy is that of no first use and minimum credible deterrence which means that the country will not use nuclear weapons unless they are attacked first but the country does have the capability to induce the second strike Before 2016 India already possessed land based ballistic missiles and aircraft that are nuclear capable 12 India s land based arsenal includes the Prithvi 1 with a range of 150 to 600 kilometres 93 to 373 mi the Agni 1 with a range of 700 kilometres 430 mi the Agni 2 with a range of 2 000 kilometres 1 200 mi Agni P with a range of 1 000 to 2 000 kilometres 620 to 1 240 mi Agni 3 with a range of 3 000 the Agni 4 with a range of 3 500 kilometres 2 200 mi and the Agni 5 with a range of 5 000 kilometres 3 100 mi 12 These are all intermediate range ballistic missiles but the Agni 5 is an intercontinental range ballistic missile An intermediate range ballistic missile has a range of 3 000 to 5 000 kilometres 1 900 to 3 100 mi and intercontinental missiles are missiles with the ability to travel farther than 5 500 kilometres 3 400 mi 13 In addition the 5 000 8 000 kilometres 3 100 5 000 mi range Agni V ICBM was also successfully tested beginning April 2012 14 and was expected to enter service by 2016 15 The country currently has four types of bombers that are capable of carrying nuclear bombs Land and air strike capabilities are under the control of Strategic Forces Command which is a part of Nuclear Command Authority Their inventory of aircraft includes the Sukhoi Su 30MKI Mirage 2000H SEPECAT Jaguar and Rafale which was purchased from France 12 India completed its nuclear triad with the commissioning of INS Arihant in August 2016 which was India s first submarine built indigenously 16 17 18 19 20 21 INS Arihant is a nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine armed with 12 K 15 missiles with a range of 750 kilometres 470 mi 22 which will later be upgraded K 4 missiles with an extended range of 3 500 kilometres 2 200 mi 23 24 25 In November 2017 it tested the BrahMos missile from the Sukhoi 30 MKI platform 26 The INS Arihant was the first SSBN to be completed under India s program The INS Arighat is currently under construction and close to completion This would be the second SSBN of the three underway to be finished 2 more improved and bigger Arihant class submarines are under construction and that will be followed by three 13000 tonnes S5 class submarine planned 27 After the INS Arihant was completed India now contained air launched nuclear missiles nuclear missile armed submarines and strategic aircraft with nuclear bombs and missiles This allows the country to join the nuclear triad China Edit Main articles PLA Rocket Force Xian H 6 Type 094 submarine and Type 092 submarine Unlike the United States and Russia where strategic nuclear forces are enumerated by treaty limits and subject to verification China a nuclear power since 1964 is not subject to these requirements Instead China currently has a triad structure smaller than those of Russia and the United States China s nuclear force is closer in number and capability to those of France or the United Kingdom making it much smaller than the American or Russian triads The Chinese nuclear force consists mainly of land based missiles including ICBMs IRBMs tactical ballistic missiles and cruise missiles Unlike the US and Russia China stores large numbers of its missiles in massive tunnel complexes U S Representative Michael Turner 28 referring to 2009 Chinese media reports said This network of tunnels could be in excess of 5 000 kilometers 3 110 miles and is used to transport nuclear weapons and forces 29 The Chinese Army Newsletter calls this system of tunnels the Underground Great Wall of China 30 China s nuclear warheads are believed to be stored in a central storage facility and not with the launchers 31 China currently has one Type 092 submarine which is currently active with JL 1 Submarine Launch Ballistic Missiles SLBM according to the Office of Naval Intelligence 32 33 In addition the People s Liberation Army Navy PLAN has deployed four newer Type 094 submarines and plans to deploy up to eight of these Jin class SSBN by the end of 2020 34 35 The newer Type 094 fleet uses the newer JL 2 SLBM The Chinese fleet carried out a series of successful JL 2 launches in 2009 36 2012 37 38 and 2015 39 The United States expected the 094 SSBN to carry out its first deterrent patrol in 2015 with the JL 2 missiles active 34 According to Pentagon report China began to ensure that one nuclear armed ballistic missile submarine would always on stand by for deterrence around 2023 40 Although there is an aged upgraded bomber force consisting of Xian H 6s with an uncertain nuclear delivery role The PLAAF has a limited capability fleet of H 6 bombers modified for aerial refueling as well as forthcoming Russian Ilyushin Il 78 aerial refueling tankers 41 China has also introduced a newer and modernized H 6 variant the H 6K that has enhanced capabilities such as launching long ranged cruise missile the CJ 10 In addition to the H 6 bomber there are numerous tactical fighter and fighter bombers such as the J 16 J 10 JH 7A and Su 30 that are all capable of carrying nuclear weapons It is estimated that China maintains an arsenal of about 250 nuclear warheads and that it has produced about 610 nuclear warheads since becoming a nuclear power in 1964 China is phasing out old liquid fueled ballistic missiles and arming several new solid fueled missiles In the same estimate it is believed that China has a small inventory of air delivered nuclear bombs As well as production is more than likely underway of new warheads for missiles to arm the Jin class submarines 31 The U S intelligence community expects that China will increase their total number of warheads and long range ballistic missiles from about 50 to exceed 100 in the next 15 years this calculation has been sliding since 2001 31 Since the end of the Cold War China is suspected to have doubled their nuclear arsenal while the other nuclear powers under the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons have cut their forces in half 42 A Pentagon report raises the possibility of China moving towards a more vigorous nuclear doctrine that will allow first use of nuclear weapons in times of war While it is not expected that China will give up the current no first use policy in the near future the Pentagon report raises concerns that this issue has been and will continue to be debated in China It remains to be seen how the introduction of more capable and survivable nuclear systems in greater numbers will shape the terms of this debate or affect Beijing s thinking about nuclear options in the future 43 Russia Edit Main articles Strategic Missile Troops Long Range Aviation Borei class submarine Typhoon class submarine and Delta class submarine Russia s nuclear triad a Borei class SSBN an R 36M2 ICBM and a Tupolev Tu 22M strategic bomber Also a nuclear power Russia inherited the arsenal of all of the former Soviet states this consists of silo based as well as rail and road mobile ICBMs sea based SLBMs strategic bombers strategic aerial refueling aircraft and long range tactical aircraft capable of carrying gravity bombs standoff missiles and cruise missiles The Russian Strategic Rocket Forces have ICBMs capable of delivering nuclear warheads silo based R 36M2 SS 18 silo based UR 100N SS 19 mobile RT 2PM Topol SS 25 silo based RT 2UTTH Topol M SS 27 mobile RT 2UTTH Topol M SS 27 mobile RS 24 Yars SS 29 Future replacement for R 36 and UR 100N missiles Russian strategic nuclear submarine forces are equipped with the following SLBMs R 29R Vysota NATO name SS N 18 Stingray RSM 54 R 29RMU Sineva NATO name SS N 23 Skiff and the R 29RMU2 1 Liner These are in use with the Delta class submarine RSM 56 R 30 Bulava NATO name SS NX 32 for the Borei class submarines The Russian Long Range Aviation operates supersonic Tupolev Tu 22M and Tupolev Tu 160 bombers and the long range turboprop powered Tupolev Tu 95 They are all mostly armed with strategic stand off missiles or cruise missiles such as the KH 15 and the KH 55 Kh 102 These bombers and nuclear capable strike aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su 24 are supported by Ilyushin Il 78 aerial refuelling aircraft The USSR was required to destroy its stock of IRBMs in accordance with the INF treaty Soviet nuclear triad during the Cold War Edit The Soviet Union developed their first nuclear bombs only a few years after the United States The USSR entered the nuclear age in 1949 with their imitation of the American Fat Man plutonium implosion design Although the Soviet Union was behind the U S in the years following World War II in terms of nuclear development they soon closed the gap By 1953 the U S successfully tested the world s first hydrogen bomb Ivy Mike with a yield of about 10 MT It was only two years later on 12 August 1955 that the Soviet Union successfully tested their own hydrogen bomb the RDS 6 known as Joe 4 in America In addition the development of stealth and fighter bombers by the USSR were heavily modeled on the American counterparts the B 52 and B 47 ICBMs Edit The development of the ICBM Inter continental Ballistic Missile was led by the Soviet Union The first ever mid range ballistic missile R 5M was created by the Soviet Union and accepted for military purposes on 21 July 1956 This missile had a range of 700 miles with a yield of 1 MT From its acceptance in 1956 until 1968 there were 48 launchers with R 5M ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear warheads deployed by the Soviet Union 44 After the creation of ICBMs and improvements on distance and accuracy had been achieved the modernization of the Soviet nuclear arsenal was undertaken The first shrapnel MRVs Multiple reentry vehicles were successfully tested by 1970 with the R 36 or SS 9 ICBM and their deployment followed the next year This meant that a single missile would now contain multiple nuclear warheads Further development using the R 36 heavy ICBM type created the R 36M SS 18 MRV s evolved into MIRVs which did not function as dispersal devices but rather allowed independent targets for the multiple nuclear warheads MIRV as well as single warhead R 36 ICBMS were deployed by the Soviet Union in 1975 The next generation of the Soviet ICBM was the R 36M UTTH which increased the accuracy of the warhead and allowed for innovations that allowed the missiles to carry up to 8 warheads The final improved generated the R 36M2 Voevoda which allowed even more accurate attacks and increased the number of warheads to 10 Some light ICBMs developed by the Soviet Union included the UR 100N SS 19 and the MR UR 100 SS 17 with lower launch weights and fewer warhead capabilities MRVs unlike MIRVs which allowed for independent targeting had a downside known as the fratricide effect which refers to the inability to distance multiple warheads from each other allowing the chance for the initial explosion to destroy the other warheads 45 By 1975 there were around 1600 ICBM launchers deployed by the Soviet Union Not only did this number exceed American estimates but the addition of MRVs and MIRVs further amplified the destructive capabilities of Soviet ICBMs These launchers also utilized the increases in accuracy and range from the SS 17 SS 18 SS 19 ICBM silo based types One final advent to the Soviet Union s development of ICBMs was the mobile launcher SS 20 type 46 MIRVs were not mentioned in the SALT I treaty Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty between the US and USSR in 1972 and consequently were insignificantly limited in the SALT II treaty of 1979 As a result the increase in ICBM launchers and nuclear warheads continued by both countries It is thought that the Soviet Union attained an advantage regarding ICBMs by the late 1970s 47 SLBMs Edit The Project 629 submarines was amongst the first to be capable of launching ballistic missiles The Soviet Union also led the way in the development of the third part of the nuclear triad SLBM s They launched the first SLBM with an R 11FM ballistic missile in 1956 and in 1957 introduced submarines with two R 11FM s in 1957 48 However these early submarines had to be surfaced in order to launch their missiles It is in this aspect that the US became the leader when they deployed the first SSBN USS George Washington SSBN 598 in 1959 with Polaris A 1 missiles able to be launched underwater However the first successful underwater launch of a ballistic missile was in July 1960 It was not until 1963 that the Soviet Union was able to match the US in this regard with an R 21 missile There was also a considerable gap between the United States employment of MRVs and MIRVs on SLBMs to that of the Soviets which the US had achieved as early as 1964 In 1974 the USSR deployed SS N 6 the first Soviet SSBN with shrapnel MRV nuclear warheads Three years later the Soviet Navy deployed their first SLBM with MIRV warheads the SS N 18 missile 45 These technologies comprise a majority of the nuclear advances made by the Soviet Union from the 1950s 1970s As the 1980s came about the new technology of cruise missiles significantly altered deterrence strategies in both the US and Soviet Union At this point the nuclear triad maintained its importance in ensuring a second strike capability although this significance has waned dramatically since the end of the Cold War United States Edit This section may benefit from being shortened by the use of summary style Summary style may involve the moving of large sections to sub articles that are then summarized in the main article Main article Nuclear weapons of the United States Nuclear triad during the Cold War 1960 1990 Edit The elements of the US nuclear triad in the 1960s a George Washington class SSBN an LGM 25C Titan II ICBM and a B 52G Stratofortress strategic bomber The origins of the United States nuclear triad can be traced back to the 1960s Its main motivation for developing the program was that the Navy Army and Air Force all wanted to play a role in the operation of the country s nuclear arsenal 49 The United States also desired the nuclear triad because it would give them a variety of platforms to deliver a deadly strike to the Soviet Union Forcing the Soviet Union to put focus on potential attacks from the land air and sea would give the United States a significant advantage in terms of deterrence Specifically the nuclear triad was viewed as a way to complicate Soviet first strike and attack planning as well as ensure the survivability of U S assets 49 Throughout the 1960s the United States steadily commissioned increasing numbers of delivery vehicles capable of carrying nuclear warheads In 1967 the greatest number of deployment ready delivery vehicles of the decade was recorded at 2 268 49 In 1970 a significant change brought about a dramatic increase in the nuclear arsenal The 1970s saw a large increase in delivery vehicles and warheads because of the introduction of the multiple independent reentry vehicle or MIRV which allowed for the deployment of ICBMs and SLBMs that could carry multiple warheads 49 Up until 1990 and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty START with the Soviet Union the number of delivery vehicles possessed by the United States hovered between 1 875 and 2 200 49 ICBMs were viewed by the United States as the means to attack hardened targets within the Soviet Union such as underground bunkers Stored in underground silos these long range missiles were accurate and could be fired quickly During the Cold War the United States maintained multiple different types of ICBMs This portion of the triad consisted of Minuteman II missiles single warhead Minuteman III missiles three warhead and Peacekeeper missiles ten warhead The ICBM count for the United States in 1990 included 2 450 warheads in 1 000 ICBMs 49 In terms of submarine launched missiles the United States utilized various classes of submarines as the delivery vehicles Missile submarines played an especially important role in terms of strategic deterrence These submarines were extremely hard to locate and could be positioned right off of enemy coastlines In terms of the nuclear triad this leg was meant to be the most survivable The United States commissioned various classes of submarines throughout the Cold War as new improvements were made to each class The first submarines to carry nuclear weapons were a collection of five boats equipped with the SSM N 8 Regulus cruise missile which were employed in the Pacific as part of the regular strategic deterrent from 1959 to 1964 The Regulus boats were essentially a stop gap until sufficient ballistic missile submarines became available Referred to as the 41 for Freedom the George Washington Ethan Allen Lafayette James Madison and Benjamin Franklin classes were all commissioned between 1959 and 1967 50 These classes of submarines carried Polaris A 1 A 2 A 3 Poseidon C 3 and Trident C 4 missiles Along with the 41 for Freedom classes the United States also commissioned the Ohio class submarines before the Cold War s end Ohio class submarines carried Trident C 4 and Trident D 5 missiles In 1990 the United States was in possession of around 600 SLBMs and 5 216 warheads 49 Rounding out the United States nuclear triad during the Cold War were its long range bombers The leg of the nuclear triad was the most versatile since bombers could be moved quickly and recalled if necessary to avoid unnecessary strikes The U S bomber force during the Cold War consisted of B 52H and B 52G Stratofortresses B 1 Lancers and the newly commissioned B 2 Spirits By 1990 the United States possessed 94 B 52H bombers 96 B 1 bombers and 2 B 2 bombers along with a total of almost 5 000 available weapons 49 Nuclear triad after the Cold War 1990 2010 Edit The elements of the post Cold War US nuclear triad an Ohio class SSBN an LGM 118 Peacekeeper ICBM and a B 2 Spirit strategic bomber The pinnacle of the 1990s in terms of global nuclear policy was the START Treaty in 1991 and the START II Treaty in 1993 These treaties called for the reduction of nuclear warheads and delivery systems within both the Soviet Union and the United States Specifically the U S was limited to 6 000 total warheads 4 900 warheads on ballistic missiles and 1 600 delivery vehicles 49 Consequentially the United States began reducing both its warhead and delivery vehicle counts during this time By the time they had completed the implementation of the START Treaty in 2001 the total warhead count was 6 196 and the total delivery system count was 1 064 49 These values continued to shrink and by 2009 the United States reduced its warhead and delivery vehicles counts to 2 200 and 850 respectively 49 Following the Cold War the United States continued upgrading its various types of ICBMs Minuteman II variants were all but eliminated and continued efforts were put toward Minuteman III and Peacekeeper variants In 2001 the United States possessed 500 Minuteman III missiles three warheads each and 50 Peacekeeper missiles ten warheads each 49 Within its nuclear submarine fleet the United States eliminated the usage of the 41 for Freedom classes of ballistic missiles submarines in favor of the more versatile Ohio class During the 1990s the United States reached a total of 18 submarines within this class 49 In 2001 these 18 submarines were all deployable and could carry 24 Trident II missiles each 6 to 8 warheads on each missile 49 The United States kept up to date with its strategic bomber leg of the triad following the Cold War as well B 52G variants were phased out in favor of B 52H classes In 2001 94 B 52H bombers each capable of carrying 20 cruise missiles were active along with 21 B 2 bombers each capable of carrying 16 bombs 49 B 1 Lancer bombers were phased out of the triad and reoriented for different missions in an effort to honor the delivery systems limitations set by the START Treaties Modern nuclear triad 2010 present Edit The Obama Administration made clear in the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review NPR that the United States will retain a nuclear triad for the foreseeable future 49 Each leg was still viewed as necessary because of how they strengthened each other s weaknesses and gave the United States plenty of options for a nuclear strike should one or multiple legs go down Following the New START Treaty set into place in 2010 the United States continued reducing its numbers of warheads and delivery systems with a focus on modernizing and updating its most effective platforms The United States has released a plan to complete its downsizing efforts in 2018 reducing its 2010 numbers of 880 delivery vehicles and 2 152 warheads to 800 delivery vehicles and 1 550 warheads 49 In their release of the 2017 NPR the Trump Administration made clear that the United States supports global nuclear weapons elimination President Donald Trump also stated his intent to keep the US safe as well as allies and partners Until a time where nuclear weapons are no longer needed the Trump Administration has also stated its intent to maintain a modern flexible and resilient nuclear armada Since the height of the Cold War the US s nuclear armada has been reduced by over 85 percent The Trump Administration acknowledges it faces a more diverse and advanced nuclear threat environment than ever before 51 It is estimated that the US currently has around 475 B 61 and B 83 bombs The B61 7 is carried by the B 2 whereas the B61 3 4 and 10 are lighter and can be carried by the F 16 F 35 and other light aircraft These smaller bombs also yield smaller payloads due to their decreased size The B61 11 is a more hardened bomb that can be used to destroy hardened targets such as bunkers however it is unlikely that it can penetrate steel or concrete The B83 is currently the largest bomb in the US arsenal The US plans to retire it by the year 2025 after the new B61 LEP is completed 49 The Columbia class is planned as the United States new SSBN replacing the Ohio class The B 21 Raider This aircraft will serve as the new long range bomber for the United States replacing the B 52H and B 2 bombers The United States continues to operate its Minuteman III ICBMs three warheads each from underground hardened silos under the command of U S Air Force Global Strike Command The Peacekeeper variants were eliminated to allow for the United States to honor the reduction requirements set forth by the New START Treaty By February 2015 the United States Air Force had deactivated all missiles of this type and filled the silos containing them with gravel 49 The U S Minuteman III ICBMs are spread between three Air Force bases which are Francis E Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana and Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota with each of these bases in possession of 150 missiles 49 Multiple programs have been put into place and are currently in place to work on up keeping and modernizing the United States ICBM force including the Propulsion Replacement Program Guidance Replacement Program Propulsion System Rocket Engine Program Safety Enhanced Reentry Vehicle SERV Solid Rocket Motor Warm Line Program Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting REACT Service Life Extension Program and Fuse Replacement Programs The Air Force plans to keep the Minuteman III program viable and updated through 2030 and is in the process of developing a potential replacement in the form of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent GBSD through various companies such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin 49 The ballistic missile submarine leg of the United States nuclear triad is still robust Currently the SSBN fleet consists of 14 Ohio class submarines each capable of carrying 24 Trident II missiles 49 These ballistic missile submarines are based out of Kings Bay Georgia and Bangor Washington The New START Treaty has led the United States to reduce the number of missiles carried on each submarine from 24 to 20 and these reductions have been reached in 2018 In the early 2000s the United States possessed 18 Ohio class submarines Following START Treaty protocol the United States enacted various programs to reach the treaty s requirements The Backfit Program was utilized to eliminate the submarines that still carried Trident I missiles leaving the United States with Ohio class submarines that only carried Trident II missiles 49 This reduction led to the conversion of four SSBNs to SSGNs SSGNs are guided missile submarines which carry conventional Tomahawk cruise missiles Currently the United States plans to begin retiring the Ohio class submarines in 2027 That being said a replacement for the Ohio class the Columbia class submarine is currently being developed with the first submarine scheduled to enter service in 2031 49 The strategic bomber program for the United States still remains viable as well B 2 and B 52H bombers still make up the entirety of the long range bomber force designed to deliver a nuclear payload The Rockwell B 1 Lancer is also used for long range bombing missions However in 1997 it was modified to carry only conventional payloads The B 1 Lancer is no longer used to deliver nuclear payloads Currently 76 B 52H bombers are maintained at bases in Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota Along with these 20 B 2 bombers are in service at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri The United States Air Force is in the process of integrating a new long range bomber the B 21 Raider into service This aircraft is scheduled to begin service in 2025 49 The B 21 is expected to have increased range and lower cost though the details are classified In 1997 the average cost of a B 2 was 737 million The projected average cost for the B 21 Raider is 550 million per plane 52 Long Range Standoff or LRSO weapons are another active option available to the US Air Launched cruise missiles ALCM and Advanced Cruise Missiles ACM are the missiles currently maintained by the Air Force Both are carried via the B 52 bomber The ACM s most current design makes it have higher stealth capabilities than the ALCM In 2006 the US had 1 142 ALCMs and 394 ACMs Since then the number of ALC missiles has been reduced to 528 By 2030 the Air Force plans to phase out the ALCM and replace them with the long range standoff LRSO cruise missile 49 United States Strategic Command is responsible for strategic nuclear deterrence global strike and operating the Defense Department s Global Information Grid Former triad powers EditFrance Edit During the Cold War France obtained ballistic missile submarines land based missiles and nuclear armed bombers France was the fourth country to maintain a nuclear triad In February 1960 France performed its first nuclear weapons test codenamed Gerboise Bleue meaning Blue Jerboa 53 In 1955 the country started Project Coelacanth the naval nuclear propulsion program 53 Their first attempt to build a nuclear ballistic missile submarine Q 244 failed and was cancelled in 1959 53 The development of the land based reactor PAT 1 allowed for Q 252 to be successful The development of Q 252 led to the submarine Le Redoutable The French produced the Mer Sol Balistique Strategique or M1 MSBS a submarine launched ballistic missile 53 Between 1971 and 1980 France finished their first generation of nuclear ballistic missile submarines which included all five submarines in Le Redoutable and the one L Inflexible submarine Of the five submarines in the Le Redoutable class only one submarine contained an M 2 missile the Le Foudroyant The M 1 missile was put on the Le Redoutable and Le Terrible two ships contained both M 2 missiles and M 20 missiles The L Inflexible contained M4 missiles 53 At this time The Force Oceanique Strategique the country s submarine fleet contained 87 percent of the country s entire nuclear weaponry 53 Between 1986 and 2010 the country began work on their second generation of nuclear ballistic missile submarines which included the Triomphant the Temeraire the Vigilant and the Terrible 53 The Triumphant class of ships contained the M45 intermediate range missile The Terrible submarine contained the M51 missile 53 Modern capabilities Edit Today France s national security is based on deterrence Since the Cold War France has scaled down their weapons program the budget for nuclear forces has been reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent they stopped work on ground launched ballistic missiles nuclear testing sites have shut down and their total ballistic missile submarine arsenal has been lowered from five to four 54 While France has drastically reduced its nuclear arsenal it currently maintains approximately 300 nuclear weapons 55 France deploys four Le Triomphant class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines SSBN on the Atlantic Coast Out of the four one is deployed at all times and the other three are on standby at all times France is in the process of upgrading its current SLBMs to a newer model The most recent addition to the French submarine fleet came in September 2010 in the form of Le Terrible which is equipped with the newer model of SLBMs France plans to modernize the rest of its submarine fleet by 2020 56 needs update As far as air capabilities are concerned France maintains four separate fighter squadrons meant to act as a deterrence against foreign threats There are 23 Mirage 2000N aircraft and 20 Rafale aircraft equipped with ASMP air launched cruise missiles ALCM The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier also maintains approximately 24 Rafale M aircraft The Rafale M aircraft as well as the Mirage 2000N K3 aircraft is equipped with an upgraded ASMP A air launched cruise missile with a range of 500 kilometers In February 2015 Francois Hollande the President of France at the time declared that France possesses 54 ASMP A missiles confirming their exact number of missiles 56 Suspected triad powers EditIsrael Edit Main articles Jericho missile Popeye Turbo and F 15I Israel as a country and its citizens neither confirm nor deny the possession of nuclear weapons as a national policy but the existence of a nuclear force is often hinted at blatantly Evidence of an advanced weapons program including miniaturized as well as thermonuclear devices has been presented especially with the extensive photographic evidence given by former Israeli nuclear weapons assembler Mordechai Vanunu in 1986 Since the 1960s in Dimona they have operated a nuclear reactor and an underground plutonium separation plant The US Defense Intelligence Agency concluded in 1999 that Israel had produced approximately 80 warheads and projected that their stockpile would moderately increase by 2020 31 They are currently estimated to have produced enough nuclear material for 115 to 190 warheads 31 Israel has been reported in a congressional testimony by the United States Department of Defense of having aircraft delivered nuclear weapons as early as the mid 1960s a demonstrated missile based force also since the mid 1960s an IRBM in the mid 1980s an ICBM in the early 2000s 57 and they are suspected of having second strike capabilities with the arrival of the Dolphin class submarine and Popeye Turbo submarine launched cruise missile Israel maintains an inventory of nuclear capable fighter aircraft such as the long range F 15E Strike Eagle F 16 and previously the F 4 Phantom Dassault Mirage III A 4 Skyhawk and the Nesher Israel has a considerable and growing number of long range tanker aircraft and aerial refueling capacity on its long range fighter bomber aircraft This capacity was used in the 1985 long range conventional strike against the PLO in Tunisia 58 In a report by London s Sunday Times in June 2000 a missile test was reported This being the only public evidence of a nuclear version of a single missile being tested off the coast of Sri Lanka 59 According to an official report that was submitted to the United States Congress in 2004 57 it may be that the Jericho 3 with a payload of 1 000 kg that allows Israel to have nuclear strike capabilities within the entire Middle East Africa Asia Europe and almost all parts of North America as well as within large parts of South America and Northern Oceania Israel also has a regional reach with its Jericho 2 IRBM force While the Persian Gulf War was beginning in 1991 Germany agreed to subsidize the sale of two Dolphin class diesel powered submarines to Israel there was a total of six submarines that were ordered and three have been delivered so far by the Germans 59 Jane s Defence Weekly reports that the Israeli Dolphin class submarines are widely believed to be nuclear armed offering Israel a second strike capability with a demonstrated range of at least 1500 km in a 2002 test 60 61 Israel is known to have nuclear capable aircraft and land base missiles with the addition of nuclear armed submarines this would mean that they now have a full triad of land air and sea based nuclear delivery systems 31 some of which would be invulnerable to a first strike by an enemy for the first time in their country s history No other nation in the Middle East in known to be in possession of nuclear weapons even though Iran Iraq Syria and Libya have started development programs that were never completed 59 Other nuclear delivery systems Edit Air Mobile ICBM Feasibility Demonstration 24 October 1974 Nuclear delivery systems are not limited to those covered in the Nuclear Triad Other methods of delivery could include orbital weapons nuclear torpedo and hypersonic glide vehicles The Outer Space Treaty bans these types of weapons from outer space The treaty states that the moon and other celestial bodies shall be used for peaceful purposes only 62 Although the treaty bans the use of nuclear weapons in space the technology that is in space allows for potential military use Both GPS and satellite technology can be used for military purposes which are not the intended use for them GPS can be used for missile and bomb direction and satellite technology can be used to gather information about other countries 62 The possibility of these technologies being utilized incorrectly increases the probability of a war conducted in space A nuclear torpedo is essentially a torpedo with a warhead attached to it Russia is currently working on undersea nuclear torpedo which is referred to as the Poseidon Status 6 according to the Pentagon 63 This thermonuclear warhead has the potential to hit any United States coast and radioactively contaminate the coastal regions 64 The innovative missile is a concern to the United States because there is potential for the missile to not be stopped by the country s ballistic missile defenses Initial reports of Status 6 were not confirmed but it has now been confirmed that weapon is real and capable Hypersonic Glide Vehicles HGVs are capable of containing nuclear warheads and therefore could be used in strikes against nuclear assets HGVs were developed to be lightweight to travel at faster speeds and to travel in the atmosphere The difference between ICBMs and HGVs is that HGVs are designed to be powered by the oxygen in the atmosphere while ICBMs have fuel on board the fuel on board is heavy Their ability to attack fast over long distance and hide from radars enables this technology to have the potential to be used as nuclear weapons 63 Redefining the nuclear triad EditWilliam Perry who served as the 19th United States Secretary of Defense has spoken for the removal of the land based missiles from the nuclear triad Perry believes that ICBMs are turning more into liabilities than assets Perry says it would save considerable cost and would prevent an accidental nuclear war Perry had experienced a false alarm for an incoming missile which later turned out to be a computer error citation needed Perry s experience occurred 40 years ago but similar false alarms have occurred since then such as the 2018 Hawaii False Missile Alert Perry says that a major problem with ICBMs is that they cannot be recalled once launched in the event of a false alarm citation needed American political scientist Matthew Kroenig has spoken against the removal of the land based missiles leg of the nuclear triad Kroenig writes that ICBMs offer defense from a pre emptive nuclear strike If the US had hundreds of ICBMs all over the US then this first attack would be a near insurmountable task 65 Kroenig writes that these ICBMs could save millions of American lives 65 A study estimated that if the US were to keep its ICBMs a Russian nuclear attack would result in 70 million US casualties whereas if the US were to remove its ICBMs that number increases to 125 million US casualties 66 Kroenig also writes that the risk of accidental launch is less than the benefit of keeping ICBMs 65 Also Kroenig says If ICBMs are truly expendable then there is no reason to risk an accidental nuclear war just to avoid losing them 65 further explanation needed Kroenig also writes that ICBMs are the least costly leg of the triad 65 The annual operating cost of ICBMs is 1 4 billion for ICBMs compared to 1 8 billion for bombers and 3 8 billion for SLBMs 67 The U S Department of Defense defends the current triad stating that Without ICBMs a conventional only attack on the limited number of submarine and bomber bases could significantly degrade the U S nuclear arsenal without rising to the level of nuclear use This significantly lowers the threshold for an attack against the U S homeland Also the Triad s diversity enables mitigation of risk if a particular leg of the Triad is degraded or unavailable 68 See also EditFail deadly Mutual assured destruction Nuclear weapons of the People s Republic of China Nuclear weapons of India Nuclear weapons of Russia Nuclear weapons of the United StatesReferences Edit a b c Britannica Academic a b c d e f g Barry John 12 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