Security

Nuclear Deja Vu

Just a few months ago, Congress essentially killed the administration’s long-fought battle to build the Reliable Replacement Warhead, the ever-morphing proposal to replace aging nuclear weapons in the U.S. inventory. As I said then, I thought this proposal was far from dead. Indeed, based on remarks yesterday made by by Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, […]

Nagasaki_nuclear_bomb Just a few months ago, Congress essentially killed the administration's long-fought battle to build the Reliable Replacement Warhead, the ever-morphing proposal to replace aging nuclear weapons in the U.S. inventory. As I said then, I thought this proposal was far from dead. Indeed, based on remarks yesterday made by by Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of U.S. Strategic Command,not much has changed:

"I think what we need is a modernized warhead to go with our modern delivery platforms, one with higher reliability," Chilton said. He also called for a "more responsive infrastructure to produce and maintain" those weapons.

A more reliable warhead and production facilities able to respond to "strategic uncertainty" would allow a cut in the number of warheads in storage, Chilton said.

I don't think it will be called a "Reliable Replacement Warhead" next time around. It'll have a new name. Any proposals, please leave below.

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