Nuclear Weapons

Russia’s nyet to White House offer bodes ill for nuclear arms treaty

Russia’s nyet to White House offer bodes ill for nuclear arms treaty
Russia’s nyet to White House offer bodes ill for nuclear arms treaty

Russia’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.

White House pushes P-5 agreement on missile launch notification, prods China to talk

White House pushes P-5 agreement on missile launch notification, prods China to talk
White House pushes P-5 agreement on missile launch notification, prods China to talk

Of 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.

DoD rejiggers $96 billion Sentinel ICBM program to minimize delay

DoD rejiggers $96 billion Sentinel ICBM program to minimize delay
DoD rejiggers $96 billion Sentinel ICBM program to minimize delay

As 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.”

Missile Defense Agency requests $10.9B in FY24, and tens of billions more after that

Missile Defense Agency requests $10.9B in FY24, and tens of billions more after that
Missile Defense Agency requests $10.9B in FY24, and tens of billions more after that

One of MDA’s biggest investments in FY24 is for the Next Generation Interceptor, with $2.1 billion requested.

Sentinel ICBM ‘on track’ for flight test this year: Senior USAF official

Sentinel ICBM ‘on track’ for flight test this year: Senior USAF official
Sentinel ICBM ‘on track’ for flight test this year: Senior USAF official

According 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.”

USAF to begin Minuteman III silo conversion to house Sentinel ICBM by decade’s end

USAF to begin Minuteman III silo conversion to house Sentinel ICBM by decade’s end
USAF to begin Minuteman III silo conversion to house Sentinel ICBM by decade’s end

The scale of the silo conversion effort is something the Air Force nuclear complex hasn’t seen in “over 50 or 60 years,” Lt. Gen. James Dawkins, deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration, said today.

Lamborn signals continuity in House space focus, toes harder nuclear line

Lamborn signals continuity in House space focus, toes harder nuclear line
Lamborn signals continuity in House space focus, toes harder nuclear line

Pentagon acquisition of space systems needs to be “faster and leaner,” stressed Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., who is expected to chair the House strategic forces subcommittee next year.

Space Development Agency missile tracking data will inform NC3

Space Development Agency missile tracking data will inform NC3
Space Development Agency missile tracking data will inform NC3

While the timeframe for certifying SDA’s Tracking Layer as part of the nuclear attack sensor network remains unclear, SDA Director Derek Tournear said there is “plenty of time” to get it done.

Nuclear, missile defense reviews target increasing Russian, Chinese threats

Nuclear, missile defense reviews target increasing Russian, Chinese threats
Nuclear, missile defense reviews target increasing Russian, Chinese threats

The two reviews were largely welcomed by more hawkish commentators and criticized by supporters of more robust approaches to nuclear arms control — with the latter lamenting that Biden has walked away from campaign promises to reduce US reliance on nuclear weapons.

The nuclear 3 body problem: STRATCOM ‘furiously’ rewriting deterrence theory in tripolar world

The nuclear 3 body problem: STRATCOM ‘furiously’ rewriting deterrence theory in tripolar world
The nuclear 3 body problem: STRATCOM ‘furiously’ rewriting deterrence theory in tripolar world

In the near term, STRATCOM Commander Adm. Charles Richard said that missile warning is his top priority, and expressed concern over China’s FOBS test.

Raytheon, Northrop, Lockheed to compete for hypersonic interceptor

Raytheon, Northrop, Lockheed to compete for hypersonic interceptor
Raytheon, Northrop, Lockheed to compete for hypersonic interceptor

The GPI is being developed to knock down hypersonic missiles as they glide through the Earth’s upper atmosphere at about 70 kilometers in altitude at speeds greater than Mach 5.

Hypersonic Space Test Fuels Sino-American Arms Race

Hypersonic Space Test Fuels Sino-American Arms Race
Hypersonic Space Test Fuels Sino-American Arms Race

“We need to recognize that we can no longer operate in the somewhat static ‘spy vs spy’ conditions of the Cold War and that we are dealing with a technologically advanced and ever-adapting adversary who has both the know-how and funding to continually push us on every front,” former Pentagon official Doug Loverro said.

After China’s ‘Hypersonic’ Test, US Alarm And Many Unanswered Questions

After China’s ‘Hypersonic’ Test, US Alarm And Many Unanswered Questions
After China’s ‘Hypersonic’ Test, US Alarm And Many Unanswered Questions

The reported Chinese system was hinted at by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall in an earlier speech, a source said, but Kendall now says his words were just a coincidence.

‘Global Strike From Space;’ Did Kendall Reveal Chinese Threat?

‘Global Strike From Space;’ Did Kendall Reveal Chinese Threat?
‘Global Strike From Space;’ Did Kendall Reveal Chinese Threat?

WASHINGTON: When Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall used his Sept. 20 keynote speech at the annual Air Force Association conference to claim that China is developing the ability to launch “global strikes from space” against US targets, it raised more than a few eyebrows and sent military analysts scrambling. After all, the decision to bring up…