STRATCOM commander says upgrades U.S. nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles essential to nation's defense

WASHINGTON – Modernizing the U.S. nuclear weapons strike capability is critical to the country's defense, the head of U.S. Strategic Command told a Senate committee this week. UPI reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

28 Feb. 2019 -- The nuclear triad, composed of submarine-launched ballistic missiles, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and aircraft classified as bombers, is critical to nuclear deterrence, calling the bombers, Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

Submarines have the capability to "hide from our adversaries and make sure we can respond to any surprise attack" and ICBMs, located in 400 places across the country and difficult for an adversary to target them all, create "a significant advantage for us," he said.

He stressed that a new class of nuclear missiles is not necessary. Instead, he urged upgrades to communications systems, sensors and radar capabilities, and noted that U.S. nuclear capability is a small percentage of the overall defense budget.

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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

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