After the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) officially expired earlier this month, neither the U.S. nor russia now has even formal limitations on their nuclear weapons. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) has announced readiness to strengthen its nuclear capabilities in terms of both intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear bombers.
The conclusion of the New START treaty allows us to optimize our efforts and direct more resources toward fulfilling our core mission ensuring safe, reliable, and effective nuclear deterrence. This managed transition enhances our operational readiness and ability to respond to the nation's needs, an AFGSC spokesperson told The War Zone.
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First and foremost, this concerns Minuteman III (LGM-30G) intercontinental ballistic missiles. As of today, 400 such missiles remain in silos, equipped with either W78 warheads (yield ranging from 335 to 350 kilotons, over 1,000 warheads were manufactured in total) or W87 warheads (yield of 300 kilotons, originally created for Peacekeeper ICBMs, later 250 warheads were installed on Minuteman III).
The U.S. now plans to re-equip them with Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRV) as it was back in the 1970s when LGM-30G entered service, continuing until the treaty with russia was signed, which required Minuteman III ICBMs to be equipped with only one warhead.
Back then, Minuteman III ICBMs were equipped with a three-warhead W78 MIRV configuration, capable of releasing warheads on different targets during flight. Regarding Minuteman III, we should also note that despite its considerable age, this missile will likely continue serving for another quarter century. Previously, the U.S. Air Force considered extending its service life to 2050, primarily due to critical failures in developing a new ICBM.
However, questions remain about how much time and money will be required to equip Minuteman III ICBMs with MIRV warheads, as well as how many of these ICBMs can actually be armed with three warheads simultaneously.
Restoring nuclear capabilities to the entire B-52H bomber fleet may prove less complicated. This was discussed several years ago. Currently, of 76 aircraft, 30 units cannot employ nuclear weapons, specifically AGM-86B nuclear cruise missiles.
Critics of such a decision previously argued that this step could significantly worsen any possibilities for renewing or even negotiating a nuclear treaty with russia. Today, such an argument no longer appears relevant. Questions remain, however, about the cost of such work and how it will overall affect the modernization of B-52H bombers to the J level.
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