Latest news with #ThomasBussiere
AllAfrica
16-06-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
New US nuke missile drops first-strike gauntlet on China
The US Air Force has revealed the first image of its next-generation nuclear cruise missile, signaling a significant step in modernizing the aging air-based leg of America's nuclear triad. This month, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that the Air Force has publicly released the first conceptual image of the AGM-181 Long-Range Stand-Off (LRSO) missile, a stealthy nuclear cruise missile under development by Raytheon via the US Department of Defense's (DOD) Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS). Designed to succeed the AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM), the LRSO will serve as the B-52J's primary nuclear strike asset by 2030. The Air Force carefully curated the image to obscure key stealth features, depicting an air-breathing missile with anhedral wings, a ventral stabilizer, and possibly a top-side exhaust, resembling the AGM-158 JASSM. The absence of a visible air intake suggests strategic concealment to preserve low observability. Awarded an initial US$2 billion engineering and manufacturing development contract in 2021, the program is slated for low-rate production starting in February 2027. Budget documents indicate a significant increase in funding from $295.5 million in FY2026 to $1.22 billion in FY2027, with a planned purchase of 1,087 units at approximately $14 million each. Armed with the W80-4 warhead and capable of subsonic speeds, the LRSO passed its critical design review in 2023. General Thomas Bussiere, commander of Global Strike Command, affirmed the program's trajectory and noted its operational relevance, even after the B-52's retirement, hinting at future standoff-capable platforms. Underscoring the urgency of developing the LRSO, Patty Jane-Geller notes in a January 2021 Heritage Foundation article that the AGM-86B ALCM entered service in 1982 with an intended lifespan of 10 years but has undergone life extension programs to last until 2030. Jane-Geller explains that advancements in Russian and Chinese air defenses degrade the AGM-86B's ability to penetrate defended airspace and that life extension programs cannot keep pace with the increasing numbers of defects found in the missiles over time. Dennis Evans and Jonathan Schwalbe note in a 2017 report for the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) that the small number of nuclear-capable US strategic bombers in operation may enable a limited nuclear strike against a lesser adversary but could prove inadequate in a conflict with a nuclear-armed great power. In line with this, Keith Payne and Mark Schneider explain in an article published this month for the National Institute of Public Policy that, with the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) set to expire in February 2026, the US could increase its nuclear-armed ALCMs from 528 to between 716 and 784 bomber-delivered warheads. Payne and Schneider argue that expanding the ALCM fleet won't be feasible until the LRSO becomes operational in the 2030s. By that point, they say the US may only have a limited number of nuclear-capable B-21 bombers, each expected to carry around eight nuclear bombs. They also note that due to the limited number of B-2s and the recent entry into low-rate production of the B-21, the B-52 will continue to be the primary component of the US air-based nuclear arsenal. However, they point out that the B-52's non-stealth configuration makes it dependent on ALCMs for survivability and that the legacy AGM-86B was not designed to penetrate sophisticated air defense systems in the 2020s or beyond. However, cost concerns may hinder the US's attempts to modernize its air-based nuclear arsenal. A March 2025 US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report notes that the US Air Force may need up to 200 B-21s, with the aging US bomber fleet providing a rationale for increased purchases from an initial 100 planned units. Despite that, the report notes that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has reportedly asked the military services to propose an 8% reduction in their planned FY2026 budgets, with nuclear modernization exempt from those budget cuts. Additionally, the report states that placing US strategic bombers on constant alert may increase demands on costs and manpower, potentially biting into an already constrained budget. Critically, the report highlights the need for US airbase hardening in the Pacific, noting that hardening with reinforced shelters and passive defenses, such as fleet dispersion, camouflage, and concealment, is necessary to enhance protection against a surprise missile attack. Reports from Stimson and the Hudson Institute have highlighted the vulnerability of US airbases and aircraft on the ground, with US airbases in Japan, the Philippines, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands being within range of Chinese ballistic and cruise missiles, with some estimates saying as few as 10 missiles could crater runways, preventing US aircraft from taking off. That vulnerability is also compounded by a lack of US airbase hardening, with the lack of hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) in most locations, which means that most US aircraft losses in a US-China conflict over Taiwan would happen on the ground. Furthermore, the US's deficient missile defenses on key installations, such as Guam, could prove to be a vulnerability. Robert Peters notes in a January 2024 Heritage Foundation report that Guam needs a full-spectrum, permanent, 360-degree missile defense capability, but US DOD efforts to implement such have moved too slowly, while China is investing enormous sums in developing capabilities that could put US and allied bases at risk with conventional and nuclear weapons. While the US has the resources to harden and fortify critical airfields, such a move could complicate strategic stability calculations. In the wake of the audacious Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airfields, which took out several of the latter's strategic bombers, pro-Russian defense outlet Top War notes that New START requires the US and Russian strategic bombers to be parked out in the open to be subject to satellite monitoring and inspection-based verification to prevent misperception between the two nuclear powers. Top War notes that while Russia suspended its participation in New START in February 2023, it continues to de facto abide by its provisions. In line with that logic, Tong Zhao explains in a July 2024 report for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace that non-nuclear US strategic actions, particularly those aimed at improving survivability or enabling conventional precision strikes, may still be interpreted by Chinese analysts as aggressive or escalatory, especially when viewed through the lens of China's 'worst-case thinking' and fear of a disarming first strike. Such a move could lower China's nuclear use threshold, with Zhao emphasizing that even defensive or non-nuclear US moves may be viewed by China as escalatory or hostile if not well-communicated, contributing to nuclear instability.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Japanese delegation hosted by Air Force Global Strike Command on Barksdale
BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Air Force Global Strike Command on Barksdale hosted a delegation from Japan last week strengthening international security ties. According to Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs, the gathering is called Extended Deterrence Dialogue (EDD) and it happened on June 5-6. The EDD brought together defense and foreign affairs officials from both nations. Global Strike Public Affairs says the U.S. side was represented by officials from the State Department and the Department of Defense, while the Japanese side was comprised of officials from the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, and the Japanese Embassy in Washington. General Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, assisted in showing the delegation AFGSC training facilities and engaged in bilateral discussion. Global Strike Command Public Affairs says these talks have taken place at key sites within the U.S. nuclear triad since 2022. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
AllAfrica
09-06-2025
- Politics
- AllAfrica
US plans nuclear buildup to check and deter China, Russia
With the New START treaty set to expire, the US Air Force is gearing up to surge warhead deployments to outmatch and deter nuclear rivals China and Russia. This month, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that the US Air Force is prepared to expand its nuclear arsenal upon the expiration of the New START Treaty in February 2026, according to General Thomas Bussiere, head of US Air Force Global Strike Command. Speaking at an Atlantic Council forum, Bussiere said that, if directed, the service could increase warhead deployments across its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and bomber fleet. The nuclear arms control treaty, which has been in effect since 2011 and has limited the number of nuclear launchers in the US and Russia, will lapse following Russia's 2023 decision not to extend it. Efforts to modernize US deterrence capabilities, including the Sentinel ICBM, have faced scrutiny due to soaring costs and delays. Lawmakers pressed US Air Force officials to demonstrate urgency in correcting the troubled program, which is projected to cost nearly US$141 billion and fall years behind schedule. Simultaneously, the US Department of Defense (DOD) is assessing the viability of expanding the B-21 Raider fleet beyond the planned 100 aircraft to counter growing nuclear threats from China and North Korea. House Armed Services Committee members remain concerned about funding priorities and nuclear force readiness, while Secretary Troy Meink emphasized that strategic deterrence remains paramount for national defense. Bussiere hinted that future adversarial developments might necessitate a more robust nuclear force posture beyond existing plans. Al Mauroni mentions in a December 2023 War on the Rocks article that the US could increase its readily deployed nuclear warheads beyond New START Treaty limits by utilizing warheads from the nuclear stockpile's active hedge, which are those that are not operationally deployed. Mauroni points out that this effectively means the US could 'upload' additional nuclear warheads onto existing missiles and bombers without building new weapons. Hans Kristensen and other writers mention in a January 2025 article for the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists that while the US currently deploys 400 Minuteman III ICBMs, each armed with one warhead, the missiles can carry two or three warheads each. Kristensen and others state that the Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) can carry eight warheads each, although they typically carry an average of four to five. In terms of bombers, a March 2025 US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report states that the US Air Force may require at least 200 stealth bombers to meet operational demands, particularly given the high tempo of Bomber Task Force missions and the reliance on Cold War-era platforms still in frontline use. Putting a number on the potential increase of US warheads, Keith Payne and Mark Schneider mention in an article this month for the National Institute of Public Policy that without New START limitations, the US Trident SLBM force could increase from an estimated 960 to 1,626 deployed warheads, while the Minuteman III ICBM force could increase from an estimated 400 to 1,000 deployed warheads, for a deployed missile force of 2,626 warheads. For bombers, Payne and Schneider estimate that the US could increase its stockpile of 528 air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) to 716 to 784 warheads. However, the US nuclear triad is in dire need of modernization. Heather Williams and Lachlan MacKenzie mention in an April 2025 article for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) that the US Air Force is currently looking to extend the lifespan of its Minuteman III ICBMs, which are decades past retirement, while its Sentinel replacement is hounded by budget overruns and delays. Regarding the US's undersea nuclear deterrent, a March 2025 US CRS report notes that the US operates 14 Ohio-class SSBNs, which are approaching the end of their service lives. The report states that the SSBNs were initially designed for a 30-year service life but were later recertified for an additional 12 years. The report notes that the Ohio SSBNs will reach the end of their operational lives from 2027 to 2040. While the report states that the US is building 12 Columbia-class SSBNs to replace the Ohio-class fleet, the lead unit is facing a 12- to 16-month delay, which could impact the timely replacement of the Ohio-class fleet. While Williams and MacKenzie note that the B-21 bomber program is on track, a June 2024 US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report states that the Long Range Standoff (LRSO) program, intended to replace the AGM-86 ALCM aboard US bombers, faces risks in schedule and cost estimates due to tight timelines and overlapping testing phases. It also mentions that while the LRSO program has made design progress and early manufacturing preparations, challenges remain in software integration and meeting nuclear certification requirements, which could affect the missile's timely deployment and operational readiness. Williams and MacKenzie assert that the US defense industrial base and nuclear enterprise have atrophied since the end of the Cold War, with decades of underinvestment and consolidation eroding its nuclear defense-industrial base, leaving it ill-equipped for renewed great power competition. When New START expires next year, the US must ensure its nuclear deterrent effectively dissuades both China and Russia from nuclear aggression, including if the two US rivals act together. Meanwhile, Russia is deploying new systems, such as the Avangard and Poseidon, and China is expanding its ICBM silo fields and maturing a true nuclear triad—thereby intensifying the arms race that the US appears to be struggling to keep pace with. In an April 2023 Atlantic Council report, Keir Lieber and Daryl Press mention that in a nuclear tripolar world with China, Russia and the US all fielding large arsenals, the US must deter two peer rivals simultaneously, each capable of massive retaliation. However, they point out that the US's current counterforce doctrine, which eschews threats to enemy cities while targeting military assets, requires a large, survivable arsenal capable of retaliating against one adversary while still deterring the other, thereby escalating the risks of an arms race. In addition, they argue that a pure counterforce doctrine increases force demands without improving deterrence. Lieber and Press propose a hybrid US nuclear doctrine, with counterforce options for limited scenarios but threatening countervalue retaliation targeting cities, industrial assets and population centers in extreme ones. They assert a hybrid doctrine would more credibly deter China and Russia while avoiding an excessive force buildup. With New START set to expire in early 2026, the US's nuclear future hinges not just on how many warheads it can deploy but how credibly it can deter two giants bent on intensifying their nuclear threats.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US tests launch of nuclear-capable ICBM Minuteman III in show of force
The U.S. Air Force conducted a routine launch of an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead on Wednesday morning, the military said. The LGM-30G Minuteman III missile was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, the Air Force said. The unarmed missile, equipped with a single Mark-21 High Fidelity Re-Entry Vehicle, traveled 15,000 mph to a test range near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, located about 4,200 miles from the launch site, the military said. "This ICBM test launch underscores the strength of the nation's nuclear deterrent and the readiness of the ICBM leg of the triad," Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, said in a statement. Trump Unveils 'Golden Dome' Missile Shield, Blindsides Key Senators The "triad" refers to the three different types of nuclear weapons delivery systems that the U.S. military can use to launch nuclear attacks. The systems are land-based ICBMs, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and nuclear-capable strategic bombers. Read On The Fox News App The Air Force said the test was routine and "not a response to current world events," adding that more than 300 similar tests have been conducted in the past. Iran's Khamenei Says Americans Should Avoid Talking 'Nonsense' In Nuke Talks "This test launch is part of routine and periodic activities designed to demonstrate that the United States' nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure, reliable and effective in deterring 21st-century threats and reassuring our allies," the Air Force said. The Minuteman weapon system is a program that first became operational in the early 1970s, and has received enhancements over the course of nearly 60 years, the military said. The Air Force now plans to replace the aging Minuteman with the modernized Sentinel article source: US tests launch of nuclear-capable ICBM Minuteman III in show of force
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
22-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
What is the Minuteman III missile that the US just launched?
The US Air Force successfully launched an unarmed Minuteman III missile from California, showcasing the strength of its land-based nuclear deterrent. As America transitions to the next-generation Sentinel ICBM, this test was aimed at highlighting the continued relevance of the ageing Minuteman III system read more An unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launches during an operational test at 12:01 Pacific Time May 21, 2025, at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, US. Image/US Air Force The United States successfully launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the early hours of May 21, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The test, which forms part of a long-standing series of routine operations, was aimed at showcasing America's continued reliance on and maintenance of its nuclear deterrence triad amid ongoing preparations to introduce the next-generation LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM. The Minuteman III, a key component of US strategic defence, has long served as the sole land-based missile in the nation's nuclear triad. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The recent launch was executed at 12:01 am Pacific Time by a joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command personnel. The unarmed missile, fitted with a high-fidelity Mark-21 reentry vehicle, was fired from Vandenberg and flew approximately 4,200 miles before reaching its target at the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defence Test Site on the Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. AFGSC Airmen & Guardians supported an operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM on May 21 at 12:01 am PT. This test validates the safety & readiness of the weapon system. Read here: | @usairforce | @SpaceForceDoD | @ArmySMDC — Air Force Global Strike Command (@AFGlobalStrike) May 21, 2025 According to US General Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, 'This ICBM test launch underscores the strength of the nation's nuclear deterrent and the readiness of the ICBM leg of the triad.' He added, 'This powerful safeguard is maintained by dedicated Airmen – missileers, defenders, helicopter operators and the teams who support them – who ensure the security of the nation and its allies.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These tests are conducted as part of routine assurance measures and are not tied to any particular global incident. With over 300 similar launches conducted to date, they serve to validate the operational capability, security and accuracy of the US nuclear missile systems. What we know about Minuteman III The LGM-30G Minuteman III is a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile deployed by the US Air Force Global Strike Command. Introduced in the early 1970s, the Minuteman III was the first missile in the US arsenal to feature multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). Originally capable of carrying three warheads, current configurations carry a single warhead, in compliance with arms control agreements. The missile operates using a three-stage, solid-fuel rocket engine, allowing for rapid launch readiness and reduced maintenance complexity compared to older liquid-fuel designs. This technological advancement enabled Minuteman missiles to be kept in a constant state of alert, a critical capability during the Cold War and beyond. An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile streaks through the sky of Vandenberg in California, US, August 25, 2005. File Image/Reuters With a maximum range of approximately 13,000 kilometres, the Minuteman III is capable of reaching targets across continents. It stands 18.2 metres tall, has a diameter of 1.85 metres, and weighs over 34,000 kilograms at launch. Its reentry vehicles, particularly the Mark 21 variant, have yield estimates ranging between 300 and 475 kilotonnes and are guided by an advanced inertial navigation system with an accuracy of around 120 metres circular error probable (CEP). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Each missile is housed in a hardened underground silo, connected to a launch control center via reinforced cables. Around-the-clock monitoring is conducted by dual-officer crews who maintain constant alert status. The system also includes redundant communication pathways, including the E-6B airborne launch control centers, which can assume control of missiles in the event of disrupted ground communications. About the recent missile launch The Western Test Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base serves as the primary hub for ICBM test launches. The operation was supervised by the 377th Test and Evaluation Group, the only dedicated US ICBM testing unit. US Colonel Dustin Harmon, who commands the group, highlighted the importance of the missile and the people who maintain it: 'Minuteman III remains the bedrock of our nation's strategic deterrent and the unwavering dedication of the Airmen who ensure its readiness are a testament to its inherent lethality.' Support also came from missile wings stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. Teams from these wings provided technical assistance and helped with system maintenance ahead of the launch. At the other end of the test, the Reagan Test Site in the Marshall Islands played a key role in collecting radar, optical, and telemetry data. These data sets were instrumental in evaluating the missile's performance during its terminal flight phase. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US Army Lt. Col. Casey Rumfelt, range director at Reagan Test Site, highlighted its global relevance: 'Reagan Test Site is an indispensable national asset, uniquely equipped to support critical tests of our nation's offensive and defensive systems, including all Glory Trip missions.' What will replace the Minuteman III The Minuteman III forms one leg of the US nuclear triad, alongside the Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missiles and air-launched nuclear weapons aboard strategic bombers. This triad ensures that the United States retains the ability to respond to a nuclear attack from multiple platforms, enhancing deterrence through survivability and redundancy. Although the Minuteman III has performed reliably for over five decades, it is now nearing the end of its service life. The US Air Force plans to replace it with the LGM-35A Sentinel as part of the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) programme. The Sentinel is expected to achieve initial operational capability by 2029, with a complete transition projected through the 2030s. Also Watch: During the interim, the US continues to invest in extending the Minuteman III's viability. Between 2002 and 2012, nearly $7 billion was allocated for upgrades to extend the missile's service life to 2030. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Air Force currently maintains about 450 Minuteman III missiles, distributed across missile fields in North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, with around 150 missiles per location. Col. Harmon stated, 'As we look to the future, these same Airmen are paving the way for the Sentinel ICBM, ensuring a seamless transition to this next-generation capability and the continued security of our nation.' A look at the history of Minuteman series The Minuteman series originated in the 1950s, with the goal of developing a missile system that could be launched at a moment's notice. Unlike earlier liquid-fuelled rockets that required lengthy fuelling procedures and were vulnerable to pre-emptive strikes, the Minuteman's solid-fuel design enabled it to remain launch-ready for extended periods. The first Minuteman missile entered service in 1962 as a second-strike deterrent. Over time, evolving threats and technological developments shifted the missile's role from targeting cities to striking hardened military assets such as enemy missile silos. With the retirement of the LGM-118 Peacekeeper missile in 2005, the Minuteman III became the only land-based ICBM in active US service. The US Strategic Command, in partnership with the Department of Defence and the Department of Energy, continues to use data from these test launches to guide force development and modernisation efforts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although modifications under treaties like START and New START have reduced the number of warheads per missile, the Minuteman III's design allows for potential reconfiguration should the global security landscape demand it. With inputs from agencies
