Description
Book SynopsisIn the next few years the US government will make decisions regarding the renewal of its triad of air-, land- and sea-based nuclear weapons that will have huge implications for the security of the country and its allies, its public finances, and the salience of nuclear weapons in global politics. Current plans provide for spending an estimated US$1 trillion over 30 years to modernise or replace the full triad.
The purpose of this book is to demonstrate viable alternatives to the current US plan to modernise or replace its full triad of air-, land- and sea-based nuclear weapons. These alternatives would allow the US to maintain deterrence at a lower cost, thereby freeing up funds to ease pressing shortfalls in spending on conventional procurement and nuclear security. Moreover, these alternative structures which propose a reduction in the size and shape of the US arsenal offer distinct advantages over the existing plan with regard to maintaining strategic stability vis-à-vis
Table of Contents
Glossary
Introduction
Chapter 1: The plan for a trillion-dollar triad
Chapter 2: Deterrence and Flexibility
The full triad (current plan)
Three alternatives to the current plan
Chapter 3: Strategic stability and arms control
Chapter 4: Nuclear security and non-proliferation
Chapter 5: Procurement trade-offs and support for conventional operations
Conclusions
Appendix
