Current Nuclear Weapons Development

[bobbymike]

The growing nuclear dimensions of regional security in the Indo-Pacific

Nuclear issues are becoming more acute and complex as countries in the Indo-Pacific attempt to navigate the increasingly unbound return of global great-power competition.

www.iiss.org

 

[bobbymike]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1663967994781769730

View: https://twitter.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/1663967994781769730

 

[Forest Green]

8,000km? Does that allow for the horizon, or is it an OTH system?

 

[Josh_TN]

8,000km? Does that allow for the horizon, or is it an OTH system?

As an ABM early warning radar, it assumes a very high altitude target. US BMEWS and other ABM radars have similar ranges assuming the target is hundreds or even thousands of mi/km above the earth.

 

[bobbymike]

US Should Consider Expanding Nuclear Arsenal to Cope with China and Russia, Study Says

A new report argues that to manage two nuclear near-peers for the first time, the U.S. should consider expanding its nuclear arsenal.

www.airandspaceforces.com

Good thing we decided to build a large heavy lift ICBM to match the Df-41 and Sarmat.

 

[Forest Green]

As an ABM early warning radar, it assumes a very high altitude target. US BMEWS and other ABM radars have similar ranges assuming the target is hundreds or even thousands of mi/km above the earth.

The object would need to be at nearly 4,000km altitude to be seen from 8,000km away.

Distance to the Horizon Calculator

 

[bobbymike]

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TxfwPl2h4vc&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Finstapundit.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo

 

[TMA1]

...the posts in that twitter account are unsettling. Joking that their nukes probably dont work and we have nothing to worry about. So corrupt all their systems have failed.

We are playing nuclear chicken and a sizable minority here on both the left and right side of the political spectrum are cheering on the escalation. Wtf

 

[bobbymike]

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2023/06/06/emerging_challenges_to_extended_deterrence_assurance_and_the_future_of_us_alliances_904013.html?mc_cid=ee6906eb13&mc_eid=307947a252

 

[NMaude]

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2023/06/06/emerging_challenges_to_extended_deterrence_assurance_and_the_future_of_us_alliances_904013.html?mc_cid=ee6906eb13&mc_eid=307947a252

A paragraph summary of the article would be nice.

 

[sferrin]

...the posts in that twitter account are unsettling. Joking that their nukes probably dont work and we have nothing to worry about. So corrupt all their systems have failed.

We are playing nuclear chicken and a sizable minority here on both the left and right side of the political spectrum are cheering on the escalation. Wtf

You can be certain that isn't an issue with China.

 

[bobbymike]

Next-Generation Experimental Technologies

wci.llnl.gov

 

[bobbymike]

Undersea Threat: China Accelerates Yuan Attack Submarines & Jin-Class JL-3 Nuclear Missiles​

https://warriormaven.com/sea/undersea-threat-china-accelerates-type-039c-yuan-attack-submarines-longer-range-sub-launched-nuclear-missiles?mc_cid=6ee5babd2b&mc_eid=307947a252

 

[Forest Green]

Northrop Grumman manufactures 2000th solid rocket motor for Trident II D5 Program

Magna UT (SPX) Jun 24, 2023 - Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has successfully manufactured two thousand solid rocket motors for the U.S. Navy's Trident II D5 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) system with the

www.spacewar.com

 

[bobbymike]

Michaela Dodge, On Arms Control and Why New START’s Suspension Does Not Really Matter, No. 557, June 19, 2023 – Nipp

nipp.org

 

[NMaude]

I know it's off-topic is there a thread open for the discussion of the US nuclear weapons tests specifically for the atmospheric testing pre-1963?

 

[bobbymike]

Shmuel Bar, Self-Perceptions and Nuclear Weapons, No. 558, July 13, 2023 – Nipp

nipp.org

 

[bobbymike]

China’s nuclear weapons buildup

Beijing is expanding its nuclear arsenal across land, air and sea and could one day rival American or Russian capabilities, writes Dr. Peter Brookes.

www.gisreportsonline.com

 

[bobbymike]

Experts react: South Korea embarks on a new nuclear era. How will it play out?

US and South Korean officials just met in Seoul for the inaugural meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group, a new bilateral platform to coordinate deterrence against a North Korean nuclear attack.

www.atlanticcouncil.org

 

[bobbymike]

Why America Has a Launch on Attack Option - War on the Rocks

If Russia were to maintain its nuclear forces at current levels, it would take more than its entire land-based intercontinental ballistic missile force to

warontherocks.com

 

[Scott Kenny]

I know it's off-topic is there a thread open for the discussion of the US nuclear weapons tests specifically for the atmospheric testing pre-1963?

I haven't seen one, but I'm pretty new here.

 

[bobbymike]

Tangential to the topic

Inside the fight over alternative sub fuel

A handful of lawmakers want the Navy to research low-enriched uranium fuel to reduce nuclear weapons proliferation. But funding bans are on the horizon.

www.defenseone.com

 

[Scott Kenny]

Tangential to the topic

Inside the fight over alternative sub fuel

A handful of lawmakers want the Navy to research low-enriched uranium fuel to reduce nuclear weapons proliferation. But funding bans are on the horizon.

www.defenseone.com

LEU is a terrible idea for submarine fuel in particular, because it increases how many times you need to refuel the sub.

 

[NMaude]

LEU is a terrible idea for submarine fuel in particular, because it increases how many times you need to refuel the sub.

It also dramatically increases the size of the reactor as the critical mass is inversely proportional to the level of enrichment.

 

[Scott Kenny]

It also dramatically increases the size of the reactor as the critical mass is inversely proportional to the level of enrichment.

And, the other fear about potential proliferation?

Who all is able to build a naval sized reactor that doesn't already have nukes? Japan? Maybe? Pretty sure SK already has some, and they don't even have a nuclear navy. Israel is in the same boat (pardon the pun).

 

[NMaude]

And, the other fear about potential proliferation?

The spent fuel from a nuclear-reactor using LEU can be reprocessed to extract all of the plutonium created from the irradiation of the U-238 in it.

 

[bobbymike]

I know it's off-topic is there a thread open for the discussion of the US nuclear weapons tests specifically for the atmospheric testing pre-1963?

https://www.energy.gov/management/articles/fehner-and-gosling-atmospheric-nuclear-weapons-testing-1951-1963-battlefield

 

[NMaude]

https://www.energy.gov/management/articles/fehner-and-gosling-atmospheric-nuclear-weapons-testing-1951-1963-battlefield

Thanks.

 

[Scott Kenny]

The spent fuel from a nuclear-reactor using LEU can be reprocessed to extract all of the plutonium created from the irradiation of the U-238 in it.

Yes, but there's already a cutout in the NPT to allow weapons grade uranium for naval nuclear propulsion.

HEU lets you use a physically smaller reactor, but more importantly means you can get 20-40 years of life out of the fuel in the reactor instead of 5-10 years before you must refuel. That allows at least one additional deployment cycle every decade, and saves the cost of the refueling(s) you skipped. Refueling overhauls are easily $500mil each...

 

[bobbymike]

Congress should fund the nuclear sea-launched cruise missile

The deployment of SLCM-Ns would send a clear message to adversary and ally alike that the United States maintains the resolve and capabilities to respond to any foe’s nuclear use.

www.atlanticcouncil.org

Along with an Antares sized super heavy ICBM

 

[Forest Green]

Or sub-launched nuclear LRHW. Maybe fit some on new attack submarines.

 

[Josh_TN]

Congress should fund the nuclear sea-launched cruise missile

The deployment of SLCM-Ns would send a clear message to adversary and ally alike that the United States maintains the resolve and capabilities to respond to any foe’s nuclear use.

www.atlanticcouncil.org

Along with an Antares sized super heavy ICBM

I'm not sold on nuclear cruise missiles for attack boats. It takes away from conventional capability and it was apparently a huge workload for the crew to have special weapons on board. I think it would detract from an SSNs primary missions for very little strategic gain. If the USN needs more nuclear deterrent, build more boomers.

 

[Scott Kenny]

I'm not sold on nuclear cruise missiles for attack boats. It takes away from conventional capability and it was apparently a huge workload for the crew to have special weapons on board. I think it would detract from an SSNs primary missions for very little strategic gain. If the USN needs more nuclear deterrent, build more boomers.

Can confirm that working with and around nuclear weapons is a pain in the ass. Personnel Reliability Program random interviews, security training, weekly required drills, massive required reading, extra security clearance work (people needing TS instead of S, makes for a much deeper background check)...

 

[bobbymike]

I'm not sold on nuclear cruise missiles for attack boats. It takes away from conventional capability and it was apparently a huge workload for the crew to have special weapons on board. I think it would detract from an SSNs primary missions for very little strategic gain. If the USN needs more nuclear deterrent, build more boomers.

Yes I would trade for more SSBNs with W76-2s or maybe the W93 will be DaY capable?

I see why they could potentially fit 14+ of these on the D5.

 

[Josh_TN]

Yes I would trade for more SSBNs with W76-2s or maybe the W93 will be DaY capable?

I see why they could potentially fit 14+ of these on the D5.

IMO, strategic nuclear weapons don't need to be DAY. I'm all for the W76-2 as a quick and dirty way to create a prompt strike tactical weapon, but tactical weapons shouldn't be the focus of the nuclear arsenal. You only need a few dozen before any conceivable situation is strategic anyway.

 

[NMaude]

I see why they could potentially fit 14+ of these on the D5.

Judging by the photograph while I knew they were small that's smaller than I expected.

 

[Scott Kenny]

I'm not sold on nuclear cruise missiles for attack boats. It takes away from conventional capability and it was apparently a huge workload for the crew to have special weapons on board. I think it would detract from an SSNs primary missions for very little strategic gain. If the USN needs more nuclear deterrent, build more boomers.

I should add that if the USN builds something like SUBROC again, with nuclear depth charges as the long range ASW weapon, then the Fast Attacks are going to be dealing with all the nuclear weapons program BS anyway. So giving them a couple of nuclear SLCMs is no additional overhead, other than the potentially reduced conventional strike per boat. Not sure if the 688 VLS boats kept their TLAM-Ns in the VLS or in the Torpedo Room with the SUBROCs.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Judging by the photograph while I knew they were small that's smaller than I expected.

They are amazingly small things for the amount of boom (and paperwork!) they generate.

 

[bobbymike]

Tactical nuke article

https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/AEtherJournal/Journals/Volume-2_Number-2/McCue.pdf

 

[bobbymike]

I guess yelling “There’s a bunch of D5s on the way” into an empty phone like doesn’t work very well.

Why a US Navy admiral says China won't pick up the military hotline - Breaking Defense

“This is a very dangerous trend in terms of our ability as major powers to truly work out our issues," Rear Adm. Michael Studeman said of the lack of communications.

breakingdefense.com