Nuclear Triad
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Russia’s Sarmat test underscores need to modernize US nuclear triad
Russian President Putin’s behavior stands in stark contrast with the Biden administration’s decision to postpone and then cancel a launch of an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM.
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Modernizing US nuclear deterrence presents a rare bipartisan opportunity
A former senator argues America’s intercontinental ballistic missiles are the foundation of nuclear deterrence, but that they must be modernized to remain effective.
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Lawmakers set for battle over next-gen nuclear missile
Nuclear modernization opponents and defenders are gearing up to fight again this year over the future ICBM and other efforts.
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Another ICBM test successful, Air Force says
The ICBM contained conventional explosives and successfully detonated above the water’s surface near Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.
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Washington’s battle over nuclear weapons budget already underway
The U.S. budget cycle is just getting started, but already Democrats and Republicans are in a war of words over whether to curb or continue the trajectory of spending on nuclear weapons modernization.
VIDEOS
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Here’s why America’s next nuclear gravity bomb could be delayed
Dr. Charles Verdon, the head of defense programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration, talks with Aaron Mehta about delays to the B61-12 nuclear bomb
More Stories
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New Senate defense appropriations chairman talks nuclear modernization, defense cuts and earmarks
Defense News spoke with Sen. Jon Tester about his priorities as the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subpanel.
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Examining international security at the nuclear nexus
Nuclear policy has largely developed independently of other defense policy communities. This has to change.
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Next-gen ICBM program survives defunding attempt in House panel
The House Armed Services Committee has shot down a plan that would’ve slashed funding for the Air Force’s Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program.
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Keep modernization of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program on track
Today, nuclear deterrence is more important than ever, which is why we must prioritize efforts to modernize the triad.
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Nuclear gravity bomb and warhead upgrades face new delays
The B61-12 delay could be as long as 18 months.
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Milley throws support behind nuclear modernization, Space Force
The confirmation hearing for President Trump’s pick as the top uniformed officer for the Pentagon went smoothly.
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The US must deploy a sub-launched low-yield nuke
To address an important gap in America’s security, the country must modernize its nuclear arsenal.
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Low-yield nukes lose partisan fight in House committee’s NDAA markup
Republicans lost a series of votes in the Democratic-led House Armed Services Committee.
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Distributed deterrence: The continuing utility of ICBMs
The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review reaffirmed the need for a nuclear triad. Now comes the hard part.
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Fight over America’s nuclear arsenal heats up in Congress
U.S. lawmakers have drawn battle lines over whether full nuclear modernization is worth the cost, and now they’re gathering ammunition.
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Trump’s new nuclear weapon has entered production
The W76-2 will be launched by submarines.
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The Missile Defense Review is out. Will Congress fund it?
If the Trump administration wants to change how it does missile defense, it will need to invest quickly.
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US lawmakers tangle over nuclear arsenal, Russia treaties
Get up to speed with this week’s blizzard of partisan messaging about America’s nuclear arsenal.
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One nuclear treaty is dead. Is New START next?
With the INF treaty on its way out, the question becomes what else goes with it.
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US, Russia remain at ‘impasse’ over Open Skies treaty flights
Tension between the U.S. and Russia over the Open Skies treaty have flared up once again.
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Nuclear weapons budget gets boost in US spending bill
Congress could, in the coming days, finalize a nuclear weapons budget that adds millions of dollars.
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Tactical nuclear weapon launches into development with Pentagon policy bill
The defense policy bill contains $65 million for a new submarine-launched, low-yield nuclear weapon.
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Senate spending bill could slow sub-launched nuke
But will the measure survive into law?
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US senators grapple with new sub-launched nuke
The U.S. Senate voted against scuttling legislation to force the Trump administration to seek congressional approval for a new low-yield, tactical nuclear weapon.
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US to boost nuke sniffing with modified C-130s
The Air Force doesn’t have too many WC-135 Constant Phoenix. Enter the ever-versatile Hercules.