Rethinking the Trident Force

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA530410 | Open PDF

Abstract:

Today, the nuclear forces of the United States consist of about 10,000 deployed warheads that can be delivered by long-range bombers, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles ICBMs, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles SLBMs. Those forces also known as the nuclear triad are designed to deter a nuclear war and, if necessary, fight one. U.S. nuclear forces are likely to shrink throughout the 1990s as limits from recent arms control agreements take effect. By 2003, the United States will have only about 3,500 deployed strategic nuclear warheads, provided that the second Strategic Arms Reduction Talks Treaty START II is ratified and carried out. Some shrinkage has already taken place over the past two years, especially among land-based missiles and bombers. In addition, the Department of Defense DoD has terminated virtually every program to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal, largely in response to budget pressures and the end of the Cold War.

Author(s):
Mosher, David
Author Organization(s):
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE (U S CONGRESS) WASHINGTON DC
Descriptive Note:
Congressional rept.
Pagination:
0094

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Monitor Series:
CBO
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_3.2_Engagement; JCA_3.2.1_Kinetic Means; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_8_Building Partnerships; JCA_8.2_Shape; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_7.2.1_Mitigate Lethal Effects; JCA_7.2_Mitigate; JCA_7_Protection; JCA_1.1_Force Management; JCA_5.3.4_Develop Courses of Action; JCA_5.3.5_Analyze Courses of Action; JCA_8.2.2_Provide Aid to Foreign Partners and Institutions; JCA_8.2.3_Build the Capabilities and Capacities of Partners and Institutions; JCA_4.7.2_Installation Services; JCA_4.7_Base and Installations Support; JCA_6.4.1_Secure Information Exchange; JCA_4.1_Deployment and Distribution; JCA_6_Net Centric
Communities of Interest:
Weapons Technologies
Descriptor(s):
*BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINES, *INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILES, MILITARY HISTORY, MILITARY PROCUREMENT, MILITARY BUDGETS, FLIGHT TESTING(GUIDED MISSILES), WARHEADS, COST REDUCTION, NUCLEAR FORCES(MILITARY), NUCLEAR WEAPONS, DETERRENCE
Field(s)/Group(s):
Economics and Cost Analysis, Submarine Engineering, Military Forces and Organizations, Logistics, Military Facilities and Supplies, Surface-Launched Guided Missiles, Underwater-Launched Guided Missiles
Keyword(s):
*TRIDENT SUBMARINES, CBO REPORTS, SLBM(SUBMARINE LAUNCHED BALLISTIC MISSILES), START II(SECOND STRATEGIC ARMS REDUCTION TALKS TREATY), D5 MISSILES, D6 MISSILES, C4 MISSILES
Report Date:
1993 Jul 01
Creation Date:
2010 Oct 27