STRATEGIC NUCLEAR DETERRENCE

STRATEGIC NUCLEAR DETERRENCE Today, the United States’ deterrent to the Soviet Union’s threatening array of nuclear capa- bilities is a TRIAD of strategic nuclear forces. These forces consist of BALLISTIC MISSILES, INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILES (ICBMs) and LONG-RANGE BOMBERS. The unique qualities of each leg of the TRIAD combined provide a level of flexibility that cannot be attained by each alone. The TRIAD enhances our employment options and complicates enemy defensive and offensive planning. It serves as a hedge against possible violations of arms control limitations and reduces the impact of new technological advances. The U.S. Air Force, with its long-range bombers and ICBMs, and the U.S. Navy, with its sea-launched ballistic missiles, provide part of the TRIAD. U.S. AIR FORCE ROLE Our land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles are unsurpassed in readiness and immediate reaction capability. They can be launched quickly, and their capability to survive is very high. The Strategic Air Command’s (SAC) intercontinental ballistic missile force consists of Minuteman missiles and Peacekeeper ICBMs, which are deployed in Minuteman silos. SAC’s manned bombers are the most flexible element of the TRIAD. SAC can use bombers as a manned penetration, as a cruise missile launch platform, or in support of conventional operations. It can use B-52 G/H and B-1B bombers to penetrate defenses. U.S. NAVY ROLE Deterrence of war has been the sole mission and basic reason for the existence of the fleet ballistic missile submarine since its inception in 1960. The submarine program is the Navy’s highest priority program. As an essential cornerstone of the national security policy, this program functions as a survivable and dependable leg of the strategic deterrent TRIAD. The submarine leg of TRIAD consists of older fleet ballistic missile submarines (nuclear propulsion) (SSBNs) armed with Poseidon C-3 or Trident C-4 missiles and new Trident submarines carrying Trident C-4 missiles. Remaining at sea about 55 percent of the time, these submarines have their missiles targeted at sites in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Tridents carry 24 submarine- launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) compared with 16 in earlier submarines. The United States now has 20 Trident submarines scheduled for construction. The carrier task group, and essential element of power projection. 1-3