The B61-13, announced in October, seeks to create a higher-yield nuclear bomb that can be used to penetrate hardened enemy locations.
By Aaron MehtaDespite a resolute defense of Trident by the UK MoD, the latest misfire will likely raise questions about the stability of the UK nuclear deterrent.
By Tim Martin“Nuclear weapons in space are a really, really dumb idea,” said Jessica West of Canadian non-profit Ploughshares, but experts note that with Russia, nothing can ever be fully ruled out.
By Theresa HitchensRussia’s stance will need to be “baked into” Biden administration “thinking as we look at our own nuclear modernization, our own deterrence measures that we may want to take, and what the security environment could look like after 2026,” said White House arms control advisor Pranay Vaddi.
By Theresa HitchensThe new warhead variant is needed to provide “additional options against certain harder and large-area military targets,” according to the Pentagon.
By Aaron Mehta“What we’d really like to see is for them to be more transparent about their nuclear buildup, and also to see some greater willingness on their part to discuss these strategic stability and risk reduction issues with us,” a senior US defense official said.
By Ashley RoqueRussia since this spring has been using both newly minted cruise missiles and even hypersonic missiles in its war to annex Ukraine.
By Theresa HitchensOf military to military relations with China, the US is “ready to talk when you’re ready to talk,” White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said today in a speech to the Arms Control Association.
By Theresa Hitchens“These announcements move from extended deterrence to a new level of nuclear power sharing. South Korea [now] has a serious voice in nuclear planning,” regional expert Patrick Cronin told Breaking Defense.
By Aaron MehtaThe new reentry vehicle will be mounted on the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, with the goal of awarding a contract in fiscal 2026.
By Michael MarrowAs officials described how they’ll spend billions on America’s nuclear arsenal and presented rosy outlooks, California’s Rep. John Garamendi retorted, “The fact of the matter is every single one of these systems are behind schedule and over budget, every single one of them.”
By Theresa HitchensAccording to the Congressional Research Service, due to its modular design and increased throw weight, the Sentinel ICBM could be equipped “with two or three warheads to meet the international security environment.”
By Theresa HitchensAn AUKUS announcement is “imminent,” Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said. “We’re in conversation with both the UK and the US around the manner in which that is ultimately announced.”
By Colin ClarkFor US nuclear stocks, Jill Hruby of the Department of Energy said, “this is the most demanding moment in the history of our nation’s nuclear enterprise since the Manhattan Project.”
By Theresa Hitchens