DoD Responds to Questions on Nuclear Targeting

FAS ^ | 2/27/2012 | Steven Aftergood

[U-238]

Are U.S. nuclear forces on “hair trigger” alert? Not exactly, a Department of Defense official told Congress recently.

“Although it is true that portions of the U.S. nuclear triad are capable of rapid execution upon authorization from the President, a robust system of safeguards and procedures is in place to prevent the accidental or unauthorized launch of a U.S. nuclear weapon,” said James N. Miller, Jr., Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in newly published responses to questions for the record from a May 2011 hearing.

Moreover, he added, “The United States continues the practice of open-ocean targeting of all ICBMs and SLBMs. This is so that in the highly unlikely event of an unauthorized or accidental launch, the missile would land in the open ocean.”

The newly published hearing volume presented an unusually candid public discussion of nuclear weapons force structure and the process for revising it.

“Generally, three high-level documents provide overall policy guidance regarding U.S. nuclear weapons,” explained Dr. Miller in response to another question for the record.

“Presidential guidance provides high-level direction on our nuclear deterrence strategy, employment/targeting policy, and force posture. I anticipate that President Obama will issue new presidential guidance later this year [2011] that incorporates many of the policy decisions reached during the NPR [Nuclear Posture Review],” he said. (In fact, however, such new presidential guidance has still not been issued, noted Hans Kristensen of FAS.)

[U-238]

I would like to remind you missileers and those on SLBMs can re-target those missiles within 60 seconds where thirty minutes later they will reach their objectives.I am not losing sleep.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

That’s 31 minutes after you’re probably already dead.

[U-238]

Missileers are trained to get their missiles programmed out of the ground in 60 seconds. Every year different squadrons hold contests who can do it the fastest and they are given awards.

[mkjessup]

Are extra points awarded if they successfully re-target on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington?

Just kidding of course, to imagine a rogue U.S. nuke being lobbed at our beloved political leaders would be such a tragic event.

[U-238]

If you are playing the DEFCON game you get points