Posted on 05/23/2024 3:08:53 PM PDT by Candor7
The U.S. needs all three legs of its nuclear triad, including the land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles and air-launched cruise missiles maintained by the Air Force, as well as the sea-based weapons that are the domain of the Navy.
In a nuclear conflict where adversaries launch a first strike, it's possible they might render U.S. ground-based and air-launched systems unusable. But the U.S. still maintains deterrence though sea-based systems, which guarantee a second-strike capability— the ability to strike back.
"If you think about it from the adversary's perspective, anything that they may think they could do as an initial strike, that [ballistic missile submarine] force is always out there on alert, on patrol, unknown where they're at," said Navy Vice Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe Jr., director for strategic systems. "Certainly, if ever called upon, they are survivable and could ensure that a second-strike from our nation could be performed. That is absolutely critical, as you look at deterrence and what it means."
Wolfe, along with Air Force Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, testified Wednesday before the Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee.
Since last year there have been some advancements on the Navy's efforts to modernize its own portion of the U.S. nuclear triad.
"We have built on this remarkable history of deterrence, marking such milestones as the final demonstration and shakedown operation for our Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines [and] establishment of a new nuclear office for the sea-launched cruise missile, SLCM-N," Wolfe said. "Additionally, in coordination with our [National Nuclear Security Administration] partners, we are initiating a nuclear weapon project to adapt a nuclear warhead for this new capability."
The sea-launched cruise missile, nuclear, or SLCM-N, can be launched from surface ships and also attack subs, rather than from traditional ballistic missile submarines. Wolfe told senators that the industrial base that would be most responsible for building the SLCM-N has atrophied and that it'll be a challenge to build it back.
"Significant investments are required to build back capacity to handle multiple concurrent nuclear modernization programs," he told senators.
The admiral also stressed to lawmakers that despite challenges such as an atrophied industrial base and supply chain challenges, the Navy must advance modernization of its part of the nuclear triad.
"First and foremost, we must maintain the current [Trident II D5LE] missile inventory and provide the necessary operational support to sustain Ohio-class submarines through the end of their life in the early 2040s," he said. "Secondly ... we must continue to ensure a seamless transition between Ohio-class and Columbia-class submarines."
The Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine is a replacement for the Ohio-class SSBN, which first saw duty in the 1980s. Part of that, Wolfe said, is transitioning the Trident II D5LE from the Ohio-class subs to the Columbia-class subs.
Wolfe also said that the U.S. isn't alone in providing nuclear capability as a deterrent. He cited the British as a significant partner in that endeavor.
"One of the greatest advantages the United States has is its alliances and partnerships," he said. "For decades, U.S. policy has recognized the contribution ... an independent British nuclear deterrent adds to NATO, and indeed global stability. [Strategic Systems Programs] will continue to support and sustain this most-important relationship."
The admiral said nuclear modernization will take time and will require investments in people, infrastructure and the U.S. industrial base.
"It is only through your continued support that the department's highest modernization priorities can be achieved, and the Navy can deliver a reliable sea-based strategic deterrent capability," he said.
While the Navy operates one leg of the nuclear triad, the Air Force operates two legs, with both land-based siloed nuclear missiles and air-launched missiles.
"The timely modernization of our nuclear triad ... remains the command's paramount focus," said Bussiere.
Ongoing modernization efforts are aimed at GSC's land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, bomber force, nuclear command and control platforms, weapons generation facilities and associated nuclear weapons, Bussiere said.
"This committee is keenly aware of the threats facing our nation today and in the foreseeable future," he said. "We currently face the challenge of deterring two major nuclear armed competitors, the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation, both armed with modern and diverse nuclear capabilities."
Also a threat, he said, are North Korea and Iran.
"Not only is the command leading the charge and sustaining current forces and deploying future long-range strike weapon systems, Global Strike Command is acutely aware that the nuclear deterrence mission is the bedrock of our national defense strategy, and foundational to our nation's defense and essential to that of our allies and partners," Bussiere said.
The DOD's fiscal year 2025 budget request includes $49.2 billion to modernize the department’s nuclear triad. Included in the request are investments for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, the B-21 bomber and the Sentinel system, which is a modernization for the ground-based portion of the nuclear triad.
Will Shufflin' Joe keep the deterrence?
Doubt it.
What happened to the sub launched Tomahawk missile?
Bush give that away too? He stripped the rest of the navy of nukes.
Still in inventory ?
The Tomahawk (/ˈtɒməhɔːk/) Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is a long-range, all-weather, jet-powered, subsonic cruise missile that is primarily used by the United States Navy and Royal Navy in ship and submarine-based land-attack operations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_(missile)
“Will Shufflin’ Joe keep the deterrence?”
Probably not. There seems to be a pattern in this Administration - they continue to DESTROY our military, with cancellation after cancellation, overrun after overrun, yet ABSOLUTELY INSIST on getting us into as many wars as humanly possible (with Taiwan about to blow this week, thanks to them).
Of course, to the Chest-Beaters here, it doesn’t matter at all, because we are America, and therefore WE ARE INVINCIBLE!!!!
But to normal people - yes, this is something to worry about.
The REAL secret is retired weapon designers are worried about the W76 warhead.
The Pit was so small it was right on the edge of not working.
Instaled in Trident I 8x MIRV
Nuclear missiles on Trident submarines, the Ohio class seemed to be state of the art not that long ago. Did they scrap them all, and turn their capabilities into launching sun tan lotion, and butt plugs?
Don't have the credentials to debate the point, but for how long will the location of that leg remain unknown?
It is easy to imagine oceans flooded with submerged, difficult to detect loitering drones guided by informed satellites.
We had time to man up after Pearl Harbor, but perhaps not the next time. Is it possible that we may reach a point in time when it will be too late to fight a WWIII?
The correct response to your post is that the people who know what is going on don’t talk, and the people who talk don’t know what they’re talking about.
Seems I read a long time ago that Bush the elder commanded the removal of all shipboard nukes.
You are correct.
Exactly correct. This DOD public relations push piece is advocating for some contractor’s ideas that probably have nothing to do with strategic nuclear weapons and the very real possibility that some idiot country thinks it can do a first strike without consequences— like their own total annihilation. They don’t need to have DOD making suggestions that we can’t do this... because we can, with far more deadly accuracy. Tactical nukes are available in every military service branch (excepting Coast Guard likely).
What will be first on the chopping block to pay the interest on the debt?
So we’re to pretend that there no door #4, nukes in space?
It is good that VADM Wolfe jr provided a refresher on what has been 50+ year old deterence policy; especially for those Congress who have never had anything other than their own corruption$$ in their minds.
However he needs to stop with the deepState delusion/idiocy that SEAsia/muslim GreatBritain, Sunak/Khan can be a part in US nuclear policy.
-fJRoberts-
The United States and Australia are developing uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUV).
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/13/tech/australia-us-undersea-drones-ml-hnk-intl/index.html
That old simplistic axiom sounds like it is right out of the 1800's.
Our national enemies today, however, know when people such the commander of our Air Force Global Strike Command and the Admiral who is director of strategic system do talk in public, they are almost certainly not offering up their game plan.
In any event, my two questions were directed not to high-ranking officials who do know, but to those like me out here on the sidewalk at the retail level for friendly speculation.
Thanks for the article, was only vaguely aware of Australia's efforts.
At the same time, however, it is reported that China has a larger navy than the U.S. and Australia combined. If true, and hulls have much meaning in future warfare that could be relevant. Of course, that may be China's misdirection; we should ask Mitch McConnell.
My reference to Pearl Harbor above was to suggest, even in the face of encouraging news, that our brightest and best is susceptible of getting caught napping.
Trident missiles are maintained, tested, and ready for launch. There is no issue with them, other than the natural process of gradually replacing one generation of weapons system with another.
"The W76-1 life extension program for refurbishing the original W76-0 warheads is described as an "excellent program" that meets the Navy's needs, with no changes that put the warhead's basic nuclear design at risk. Great care was taken to replicate the original components and processes as closely as possible."
Burn the planet twice, yeah that’s a GREAT idea.
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