National Harbor, Md. — The War Department is weighing a different approach to modern-era deterrence as the United States advances a sweeping effort to modernize its nuclear forces, Maj. Gen. Brandon D. Parker, director of global operations at U.S. Strategic Command, said Sept. 22.
Speaking at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Parker outlined a dual-track focus on advancing new systems while sustaining legacy capabilities. “We see a lot of promise, both in the programs of record, but also in the legacy systems that we have existing today,” he said. “So, while we go through that modernization process, it’s equally important that we sustain the capabilities that we have today so that we can continue to deter and, if necessary, respond.”
Programs of record highlighted by Parker include the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, and upgrades to nuclear command, control and communications, or NC3.
Legacy systems that remain central to the force include the Minuteman III ICBM, the B-52H Stratofortress bomber, the B-2 Spirit bomber, and elements of NC3 that link space-based capabilities.
Parker said NC3 modernization will emphasize cybersecurity, interoperability with both current and future platforms, and the integration of data analytics, automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence to support operators.
“The nuclear triad is the bedrock of our national defense. There’s no element of U.S. military power that can replace the unique deterrence characteristics of nuclear forces,” he said. He added that the triad offers a broad set of options for the president.
He pointed to the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review, which reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to a safe, secure and effective nuclear force posture across all three legs of the triad: submarines, bombers and land-based missiles.
