U.S. military plans to add multiple nuclear warheads to aging Militia III The Congressional Government Accountability Office disclosed in a report published on Wednesday that intercontinental ballistic missiles would increase their deterrent firepower until the troubled sentinel missile system.
42 pages GAO study is an uncategorized version of an earlier secret report, urging air force Quickly solve the problem from aging and difficult-to-maintenance militia III to new sentinels.
US military can maintain threatened nuclear threats China,,,,, Russia The report said North Korea was during missile modernization. US Strategy Commander told Gao air force The report said that the strategic deterrence requirement was met “daily”.
However, GAO said that adding multiple reentry vehicles with independent targets, or adding MIRVs to the Militia III could “help mitigate the risk of potential outpost delays during the transition to force”.
Air Force Global Strike Command’s 2020 transition and deployment strategy includes the option to restart all or approximately 400-man III IIBMS during transfer to Sentinel.
The current Militia III has one warhead, but can be equipped with up to three warheads.
The report said the added warheads would require a change in U.S. nuclear policy.
“The Global Strike Commander stressed that due to the complexity of operations and the additional logistical effort required to complete changes to such requirements, they want to implement any potential re-engineering decisions as much as possible,” the report said.
The report said other details about the re-formulation of the plan were classified.
The Pentagon’s 2022 nuclear posture review says the U.S. retains the ability to upload warheads on its intercontinental ballistic aircraft, but continues to favor a single warhead to reduce “adversary power to launch a first strike.”
Both China and Russia’s nuclear missiles include MIRV. Some of them China’s Intercontinental ballistic missiles are equipped with three warheads, and Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles can be equipped with up to 10 types.
One of six suggestions from GAO air force It is intended to “specifically address the impact of personnel and materials on re-engineering the decision of ICBMS as part of the overall transition risk management plan”.
Plans to add warheads to Militia III are part of criticizing the report air force To develop a risk management plan for ICBM’s modernization, the plan will “identify, evaluate and respond to numerous old ballistics” until all old missiles are replaced.
this air force Calls for the deployment of the first new ICBM at FE Warren air force The basis is Wyoming.
in addition, air force A sentinel testing facility was not established, which was trained to protect security forces that were about to launch missiles.
The report is the latest setback in the Pentagon’s strategic nuclear modernization plan, which is working to replace the single combat Little Militia III nuclear missiles in three areas of Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota. The missile was first deployed in 1970, 40 years after the date when the missile was expected to be replaced.
The Pentagon estimates the deployment of alternative sentinel missiles has been delayed “yearly” with an estimated cost of about $140 billion, the report said.
In January, air force Notify Congress, sentinel Violation of the statutory cost threshold that requires planning review and potential cancellation.
The report said sentinel costs increased by 37%, and the current estimate of the total planned cost is expected to be higher.
In July, the Pentagon proved that outpost plans will continue and order air force Reorganization procedure.
The increase in costs is what the Ministry of Defense calls an impractical delivery schedule; the report says ineffective engineering and incomplete basic system design and the “anemia intercontinental ballistic missile industrial foundation.”
The initial plan required all 400 militia III to be active until 2030 and retire in 2036.
Now, due to the outpost delay air force The report said that the deployment of the Militia III is under consideration until 2050.
“The outpost delay means air force Must operate aging Militia III The report says it may take longer than planned.
Other suggestions and requirements air force Develop a plan to manage the risk of the transition from Militia III to Sentinels and establish testing facilities for the Outpost Security Forces.
Test launch plans and overall maintenance efforts after 2030 are also required air force.
Two U.S. strategic nuclear weapons experts disclosed GAO reports on multiple warheads following a report published in July that urged MIRV to be uploaded Militia III As a short-term way to strengthen U.S. nuclear deterrence.
As China and Russia Former Pentagon nuclear strategist Mark B. Schneider and strategic weapons expert Keith B. Payne quickly built up nuclear power, and the United States quickly needed to add warheads to its missile forces. Both are at the National Institute of Public Policy.
The report calls for the increase of multiple warheads to 400 land-based militia III intercontinental ballistic missiles and the addition of warheads to ballistic missiles launched at naval submarines.
“At this point, nuclear uploads may be the only way the United States can fully improve the strength and flexibility needed to tailor-made deterrence to prevent strong conflicts, including major aggression against U.S. allies,” the report said.
Taking into account potential opportunism or the threat of coordinated Russian, Chinese and North Korean aggression, uploading warheads to existing missiles is “emergency”.
The Trident submarine missile upload will increase its current force from about 960 warheads to 1,626. Militia III Uploading will increase the number of warheads from 400 people to about 1,000.
“In addition, there will be hundreds of bomber weapons added by uploading,” the report said.
The cost of adding warheads is relatively small and limited to transportation and warhead devices, which is estimated to be around $100 million in a few years.
