The head of U.S. Strategic Command on Friday tried to strike a balance between advocacy for the modernization of the United States’ nuclear triad and downplaying the nation’s diminished relationship with Russia.
Foreign nations, such as Russia, China and North Korea, are putting a high priority on developing advanced nuclear capabilities, and the United States must do the same, said Adm. Cecil Haney, STRATCOM commander.
“We are fast approaching the point where we will put at risk our safe, secure, effective and ready nuclear deterrent, potentially jeopardizing our strategic stability,” he said during a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “We are out of time. Sustainment is a must. Recapitalization is a requirement.”
The majority of the nation’s current nuclear-capable bombers, ICBMs and submarines were designed and fielded in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. For decades, the Air Force and Navy have sustained those platforms through service life extensions, but all must be replaced during the 2025-2030 timeframe, Haney said.
Full funding for all three programs slated to replace the current nuclear triad is critical from an operational standpoint and to convey the importance of those assets to allies and adversaries, he added.
The Ohio-class replacement submarine will be the most survivable leg of the triad, Haney said. The Long Range Strike Bomber, which will replace the B-52 and B-1, provides flexibility and the ability to forward deploy to support U.S. partners. Finally, the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent slated to replace the Minuteman III ICBMs will help ensure an adversary cannot launch a counterattack on the United States that wipes out all its nuclear assets.
“Our budget has a deterrent value of its own, and reflects our nation’s commitment to our deterrent strategy. If we are to meet future challenges, we must have a synchronized campaign of investments supporting the full range of military operations,” he said. “Our adversaries pay close attention to how we back up our words with resources. To that end, budget stability is integral to strategic stability.”
Throughout the speech, Haney downplayed concerns that the United States was engaging in a new arms race with Russia, although he acknowledged that the latter country had escalated tensions in recent years.
As Russia has continued to modernize its conventional and strategic weapons, the nation has shown the willingness to destabilize other nations such as Ukraine and Syria, he said. The country also is working to advance capabilities that can disrupt the United States in space and cyberspace.
“Even with all this, and despite assertions by some that the United States and Russia are in a nuclear arms race, there is continued progress in the New START business,” he said, referring to the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the two countries.
The United States has reduced its stockpile by 85 percent relative to its Cold War peak, he said. So far, the Air Force is in the process of placing 50 ICBMs into non-deployed status and is converting 42 B-52 bombers to conventional-only aircraft. The Navy is removing four launch tubes on each Ohio-class submarine.
“Given continued funding and authority, were on track to achieve New start limits of 1,550 deployed warheads and 700 deployed delivery systems by February of 2018,” he said. “That is not what I would define as an arms race.”
The New START limits help increase stability by setting limits for the number and kinds of nuclear weapons each country can have, as well as allowing for inspections of the countries’ stockpiles, he said.