One of two Trident II D5 missiles tested June 2 by the U.S. Navy. Photo: U.S. Navy
USNI News: STRATCOM Commander Wants to Put Low Yield Nuclear Missiles on U.S. Submarines
CAPITOL HILL – If the U.S. opts to develop low-yield nuclear missiles, expect the Navy to deploy these weapons as part of the nation’s undersea nuclear deterrent, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command told lawmakers Thursday.
If developed, the U.S. low-yield nuclear weapons would fall within limits set by the New START nuclear arms treaty, Air Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, told the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee. New START, signed in 2010 by the U.S. and the Russian Federation, caps the number of nuclear warheads each nation deploys.
“We’ll actually remove big weapons from the submarines and put small ones in,” Hyten said. “We’re going to have still the same number weapons, they just going to give us a smaller yield. But we think that smaller yield actually gives us a better chance to deter our primary adversary.”
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WNU Editor: I fail to see how deploying a lower yield nuclear weapon will have a greater deterrence on the other side. I know Russian doctrine when it comes to nuclear weapons is to throw everything at the other side and to completely obliterate the opponent. And as to the threat of being confronted by a "lower yield" nuclear weapon. To the Kremlin and the Russian military it will make no difference. A nuclear weapon is a nuclear weapon. Whether it is a 10 kiloton weapon, 100 kiloton weapon, or a 1 megaton one, the counter response will be the same.
