Put Bombers Back On Nuclear Alert If ICBM Force Gets Slashed: Strategic Command Boss
American bombers haven’t stood nuclear alert for decades, but that could change if the Minuteman III ICBM fleet gets retired without replacement.
American bombers haven’t stood nuclear alert for decades, but that could change if the Minuteman III ICBM fleet gets retired without replacement.
A recent Air Force Magazine article has caused something of a stir after it highlighted systems and procedures that the U.S. Air Force employs to ensure it can still launch its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, if necessary, even if personnel in individual missile alert facilities are incapacitated for some reason. At first glance, it might appear that the United States has something of a “Dead Hand” arrangement to fire these world-ending weapons, drawing comparisons to systems the Soviet Union reportedly employed and that present-day Russia apparently still uses. However, a closer look at the American protocols shows the system is place is far from automatic and still has a number of checks and balances to prevent an inadvertent missile launch.
Unless something else changes, the service’s plan would put the United States on course to violate the New START agreement.
There are few limits on the command and chief’s nuclear authority, but that might still be the least worst option.
The new system is less than half the weight of the older equipment and shifts data onto the missiles much faster.
The Pentagon is conducting its latest nuclear posture review and there may be a push to eliminate the missiles entirely.
Royal Navy Trident sub-launched ballistic missile test went horribly wrong last June. The botched test has become a political lightning rod for Prime Minister Theresa May and has made some question the credibility of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
Nobody is laughing about North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs anymore are they?
It slides right in!
The Air Force is making another attempt at replacing its Vietnam-era ballistic missile support and VIP helicopters.