I'm not happy that our nukes are spreading throughout the fleet rather than being concentrated in our small fleet of nuclear-powered, nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN).
In a surprising development, the US Navy has released a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the development of a Nuclear-Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N).
The initiative aims to establish a modular and resilient cruise missile system that delivers a proportional response while ensuring essential adversary targets remain vulnerable.
It may be necessary to spread elements of our nuclear deterrent beyond our dedicated SSBNs to our Virginia-class submarines used for conventional war. America may need to make sure its nuclear arsenal is survivable in a world of expanding nuclear threats--mostly increased
numbers of Chinese nukes and increased Russian hostility with their existing
nuclear arsenal. Mostly China because who knows how many of Russia's long-range nukes work.
But I don't like that when a submarine launches conventional cruise
missiles, enemies won't know if it is conventionally armed or nuclear. If their nuclear posture is "launch-on-warning" to avoid losing their arsenal in an enemy first strike--which would apply to smaller states in particular--it could be a very bad day.
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
NOTE: I'm adding updates on the Last Hamas War, including the revived Syria multi-war, in this post.
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NOTE: The picture is from the article.
