U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: AD1031416 | Open PDF

Abstract:

Even though the United States is in the process of reducing the number of warheads deployed on its long-range missiles and bombers, consistent with the terms of the New START Treaty, it also plans to develop new delivery systems for deployment over the next 20-30 years. The 115th Congress will continue to review these programs, and the funding requested for them, during the annual authorization and appropriations process. During the Cold War, the U.S. nuclear arsenal contained many types of delivery vehicles for nuclear weapons. The longer-range systems, which included long-range missiles based on U.S. territory, long-range missiles based on submarines, and heavy bombers that could threaten Soviet targets from their bases in the United States, are known as strategic nuclear delivery vehicles. At the end of the Cold War, in 1991, the United States deployed more than 10,000 warheads on these delivery vehicles. That number has declined to less than 1,500 deployed warheads today, and is slated to be 1,550 deployed warheads in 2018, after the New START Treaty completes implementation.

Author(s):
Woolf, Amy F
Author Organization(s):
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC WASHINGTON DC
Descriptive Note:
Technical Report
Pagination:
0051

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release;

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
CRS-7-5700, RL33640
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_7_Protection; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_3.2_Engagement; JCA_3.2.1_Kinetic Means; JCA_7.1.1_Prevent Kinetic Attack; JCA_7.1_Prevent; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_1.1_Force Management; JCA_7.2.1_Mitigate Lethal Effects; JCA_7.2_Mitigate; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_8_Building Partnerships; JCA_8.2_Shape; JCA_6.4.1_Secure Information Exchange; JCA_8.2.3_Build the Capabilities and Capacities of Partners and Institutions; JCA_5.5_Direct; JCA_5.5.1_Communicate Intent and Guidance; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_6_Net Centric; JCA_4.1_Deployment and Distribution; JCA_6.4_Information Assurance
Modernization Areas:
Hypersonics
Communities of Interest:
Weapons Technologies
Descriptor(s):
nuclear warheads, department of state, intercontinental ballistic missiles, national security, arms control treaties, MILITARY FORCES (UNITED STATES), MILITARY STRATEGY, BOMBER AIRCRAFT, shipbuilding, naval operations, strategic weapons, ballistic missile submarines
Field(s)/Group(s):
Nuclear Weapons, Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics
Keyword(s):
U S Strategic Nuclear Forces
Report Date:
2017 Feb 10
Creation Date:
2017 Sep 18