USAF
US Air Force B-52 bomber
The end of the New START nuclear nonproliferation treaty left the U.S. nuclear arsenal unchecked for the first time in decades.
The United States Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) says it is prepared to equip Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) with multiple warheadsand restore the ability to nuclear weapons to the entire fleet of B-52 bombersif requested.
Both of these capabilities were subject to limitations by the New START arms control treaty between the United States and Russia, without a replacement agreement in place.
The US currently has 400 Minuteman III missilesalso designated LGM-30G, carried in silos distributed across five states. Each is equipped with a unique W78 or W87 warhead.
Of the Air Force’s 76 B-52H bombers, 30 are currently only capable of employing conventional munitions. This stance had helped the United States to fulfill your obligations under New START.
The treaty imposed strict limits on the total number of missiles strategic nuclear weapons and deployed bombers, strategic nuclear warheads and relevant deployed and non-deployed launchers that the United States and Russia could have at any given time.
“The cessation of New START allows us simplify our focus and dedicate more resources to our core mission: ensuring a safe and effective nuclear deterrent,” an AFGSC spokesperson told . “This transition reinforces our operational readiness and our ability to respond to the call of the nation“.
“While we do not comment on the deployment of our forces, Air Force Global Strike Command maintains both the capability and training for andEquip Minuteman III ICBM strength with MIRV and convert all your B-52 fleet on long-range strike platforms of dual capacity, if ordered by the President”, added the spokesperson.
MIRV stands for Multiple Independently Targeted Reentry Vehicle. ICBMs and other ballistic missiles with MIRV configurations are designed to transport and launch multiple warheads against different targets during your flight.
When the Air Force began fielding the LGM-30G in 1970, the missiles had a MIRV configuration with three W78 warheads. Each of these warheads has a reported power of about 335 kilotons.
Os Minuteman III had been reduced to just one warhead in line with other strategic arms control treaties with Russia prior to New START. These agreements also led to early withdrawal of the Air Force’s LGM-118A Peacemaker ICBM force in 2005.
Following the expiration of New START, US officials have stated that they are committed to pursue new agreements strategic arms control, but also that they want any future agreement to include the China as well as Russia.
The Chinese Government is currently in the midst of an important effort to nuclear modernizationas well as a huge expansion of its total arsenal, although its arsenal continues to be small compared to the US and Russia. Those responsible in Beijing have repeatedly rejected appeals to join new strategic arms control negotiations.
US officials have also now openly alleged that the Chinese government has involved in secret nuclear tests of a critical level, which could further complicate future diplomatic efforts.
To date, the US Government has not outlined any specific plans to increase the size of the US nuclear arsenal or otherwise alter its nuclear force posture.
