US stretching out legacy nuclear arsenal

The US is stuck with aging nuclear ballistic missile submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles in a less-than-ideal nuclear posture amid great power rivalry and nuclear uncertainty.

This month, Breaking Defense reports that the Pentagon, due to delays in deploying their successors, is exploring strategies to extend the lifespans of its ICBMs and of the subs that are called, for short, SSBNs. (The SS denotes submarine; the B, ballistic missile; while the N tells us the vessel is nuclear-powered.)

According to Breaking Defense, John Plumb, the assistant secretary of defense for space policy, stated that while the US Department of Defense is dedicated to upgrading its nuclear triad, it is considering strategies to ensure that aging Ohio-class SSBNs and Minuteman III ICBMs remain prepared to respond to conflicts for longer periods than initially expected.

Further, the publication mentions that the DOD is reassessing the US Air Force’s Sentinel program following a 37% spike in program expenses, an overrun significant enough to have qualifed as what is called in Pentagon-speak a Nunn McCurdy breach. It notes that triggering the terms of the legislation in question necessitates action by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to determine whether the program can proceed and, if so, to certify its viability.

Breaking Defense says that the US Navy’s shipbuilding has been plagued by systemic issues in its industrial base, resulting in significant 12-to-16-month delays for the upcoming Columbia-class SSBN, built by <a href=«https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/GD?.tsrc=» https:>General Dynamics

Electric Boat and <a href=«https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/HII?.tsrc=» https:>Huntington Ingalls Industries.

The report says that the US Air