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Title: What don't we need anymore U. S. land-based strategic weapons modernization and the end of the Cold War

Abstract

A reevaluation of US strategic weapons modernization is required with the end of the Cold War. This analysis examines US land-based strategic weapons modernization. First it establishes that the future strategic environment will be characterized by reduced superpower tensions, lower levels of nuclear armaments, but more technologically capable weapons. Deterrence theory is examined to derive strategic criteria for US land-based strategic weapons. Two sets of criteria are established: maximalist criteria where survivable counterforce capability should be maximized; and MAD-plus criteria where an assured destruction capability plus a few extra weapons for limited nuclear options should be maintained at minimal cost. For the MAD-plus strategy, it is found that the United States need only retain MX missiles in silos, B-1B bombers, and a slow, soft ALCM carrier unless depressed-trajectory SLBMs are accurate, in which case Midgetmen based on hard, mobile launchers should be procured. For the maximalist strategy, it is found that a combination of rail garrison and silo-based MX missiles is optimal if the US will never be caught by surprise.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Virginia Univ., Charlottesville, VA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
7019701
Resource Type:
Miscellaneous
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION; 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; ARMS CONTROL; BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE; USA; MILITARY STRATEGY; WEAPONS; NUCLEAR DETERRENCE; DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; NATIONAL DEFENSE; NORTH AMERICA; 350200* - Arms Control- Proliferation- (1987-); 290000 - Energy Planning & Policy

Citation Formats

Graben, E K. What don't we need anymore U. S. land-based strategic weapons modernization and the end of the Cold War. United States: N. p., 1991. Web.
Graben, E K. What don't we need anymore U. S. land-based strategic weapons modernization and the end of the Cold War. United States.
Graben, E K. 1991. "What don't we need anymore U. S. land-based strategic weapons modernization and the end of the Cold War". United States.
@article{osti_7019701,
title = {What don't we need anymore U. S. land-based strategic weapons modernization and the end of the Cold War},
author = {Graben, E K},
abstractNote = {A reevaluation of US strategic weapons modernization is required with the end of the Cold War. This analysis examines US land-based strategic weapons modernization. First it establishes that the future strategic environment will be characterized by reduced superpower tensions, lower levels of nuclear armaments, but more technologically capable weapons. Deterrence theory is examined to derive strategic criteria for US land-based strategic weapons. Two sets of criteria are established: maximalist criteria where survivable counterforce capability should be maximized; and MAD-plus criteria where an assured destruction capability plus a few extra weapons for limited nuclear options should be maintained at minimal cost. For the MAD-plus strategy, it is found that the United States need only retain MX missiles in silos, B-1B bombers, and a slow, soft ALCM carrier unless depressed-trajectory SLBMs are accurate, in which case Midgetmen based on hard, mobile launchers should be procured. For the maximalist strategy, it is found that a combination of rail garrison and silo-based MX missiles is optimal if the US will never be caught by surprise.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7019701}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991}
}

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