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1 [1] (November 29, 2016)

handle is hein.crs/crsmthmbbza0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Defe Congressional Research Service Ifo vrig the lative debate since 1914 Defense Primer: Strategic Nuclear Forces November 29, 2016 The Nuclear Triad Since the early 1960s the United States has maintained a triad of strategic nuclear delivery vehicles. These include long-range land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), long-range submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and long-range heavy bombers equipped to carry nuclear-armed cruise missiles and nuclear-armed gravity bombs. The number of nuclear warheads carried on these delivery vehicles peaked in the late 1980s, at around 14,000 warheads. It has been declining ever since, both as the United States complies with limits in U.S.-Russian arms control agreements and as it has changed requirements after the Cold War. At the present time, the United States is reducing its forces to comply with the New START Treaty, which entered into force in early 2011. Table 1 displays the force structure that the United States plans to retain when that treaty's limits become binding in February 2018. Table I. U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces Under New START Total Deployed Warheads System Launchers Launchers (est.)a Minuteman 454 400 400 III ICBM Trident (D- 280 240 1,090 5) SLBM B-52 Bobr 46 42 42 bombers B-I Boe 20 18 18 bombers Total 800 700 1,550 Source: U.S. Department of Defense, Report on Plan to Implement the Nuclear Force Reductions, Limitations, and Verification, Washington, DC, April 8, 2014. a. The treaty attributes only one warhead to each deployed bomber, although they could carry up to 20 bombs or cruise missiles. Rationale for the Triad Early in the Cold War, the United States developed these three types of nuclear delivery vehicles, in large part because each of the military services wanted to play a role in the U.S. nuclear arsenal. However, during the 1960s and 1970s, analysts developed a more reasoned rationale for the nuclear triad. They argued that these different basing modes had complementary strengths and weaknesses that would enhance deterrence and discourage a Soviet first strike. For example, ICBMs were believed to have the accuracy and prompt responsiveness needed to attack hardened targets such as Soviet command posts and ICBM silos, SLBMs had the survivability needed to complicate Soviet efforts to launch a disarming first strike and to retaliate if such an attack were attempted, and heavy bombers could be dispersed quickly and launched to enhance their survivability, and they could be recalled to their bases if a crisis did not escalate into conflict. The Obama Administration indicated in the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) that the United States would retain a triad of ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers as the United States reduced its forces to the limits in the New START Treaty. The NPR Report indicated that the unique characteristics of each leg of the triad were important to the goal of maintaining strategic stability at reduced numbers of warheads: Strategic nuclear submarines (SSBNs) and the SLBMs they carry represent the most survivable leg of the U.S. nuclear Triad.... Single-warhead ICBMs contribute to stability, and like SLBMs are not vulnerable to air defenses. Unlike ICBMs and SLBMs, bombers can be visibly deployed forward, as a signal in crisis to strengthen deterrence of potential adversaries and assurance of allies and partners. Moreover, the NPR noted that retaining sufficient force structure in each leg to allow the ability to hedge effectively by shifting weight from one Triad leg to another if necessary due to unexpected technological problems or operational vulnerabilities. Current Forces and Modernization Plans The United States is currently in the process of recapitalizing each leg of its nuclear triad and refurbishing many of the warheads carried by those systems. ICBMs The United States deployed 450 Minuteman III ICBMs at three Air Force bases: F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming, Malmstrom AFB in Montana, and Minot AFB in North Dakota. Each base houses 150 missiles. Under the New START Treaty, the number of deployed ICBMs will decline to 400, although the Air Force will retain all 450 silo launchers. While each Minuteman III missile originally carried three warheads, each now carries a single warhead, both to reduce U.S. forces to New START levels and to adopt what is considered a more stabilizing posture. Over the past 15 years, the Air Force pursued several programs that were designed to improve the accuracy and reliability of the Minuteman fleet and to, according to the Air Force, support the operational capability of the Minuteman ICBM through 2030. According to some estimates, this effort will likely cost $6-$7 billion. In addition, the Air Force analyzed alternative approaches to replace the Minuteman III, which led to the start of the www.crs.gov i 7-570

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