During discussions about the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review, Congress
reviewed and discussed the plans for maintaining and modernizing
U.S. strategic nuclear forces. Although the United States plans to
reduce the number of warheads deployed on its long-range missiles
and bombers, consistent with the terms of the New START Treaty, it
also plans to develop new delivery systems for deployment over the
next 20-30 years. As a result, the 112th Congress will continue to
review these programs during the annual authorization and
appropriations process. During the Cold War, the U.S. nuclear
arsenal contained many types of delivery vehicles for nuclear
weapons. The longer-range systems, which included long-range
missiles based on U.S. territory, long-range missiles based on
submarines, and heavy bombers that could threaten Soviet targets
from their bases in the United States, are known as strategic
nuclear delivery vehicles. At the end of the Cold War, in 1991, the
United States deployed more than 10,000 warheads on these delivery
vehicles. That number has declined to less than 6,000 warheads
today, and is slated to decline to 1,550 warheads by the year 2017
if the New START Treaty enters into force. At the present time, the
U.S. land-based ballistic missile force (ICBMs) consists of 450
Minuteman III ICBMs, each deployed with between one and three
warheads; they will all be reduced to only one warhead over the
next few years. The Air Force has deactivated all 50 of the
10-warhead Peacekeeper ICBMs and 50 Minuteman III missiles. The Air
Force is also modernizing the Minuteman missiles, replacing and
upgrading their rocket motors, guidance systems, and other
components. The Air Force had expected to begin replacing the
Minuteman missiles around 2018, but has decided, instead, to
continue to modernize and maintain the existing missiles, so that
they can remain in the force through 2030. The U.S. ballistic
missile submarine fleet currently consists of 14 Trident
submarines; each carries 24 Trident II (D-5) missiles. The Navy
converted 4 of the original 18 Trident submarines to carry
non-nuclear cruise missiles. The remaining submarines currently
carry around 1,200 warheads in total; that number will decline as
the United States implements the New START Treaty. The Navy has
shifted the basing of the submarines, so that nine are deployed in
the Pacific Ocean and five are in the Atlantic, to better cover
targets in and around Asia. It also has undertaken efforts to
extend the life of the missiles and warheads so that they and the
submarines can remain in the fleet past 2020, and to begin design
work on a new submarine. The U.S. fleet of heavy bombers includes
19 B-2 bombers and 94 B-52 bombers. The B-1 bomber is no longer
equipped for nuclear missions. The fleet will decline to around 60
aircraft in coming years, as the United States implements New
START. The Air Force has also begun to retire the nuclear-armed
cruise missiles carried by B-52 bombers, leaving only about half
the B-52 fleet equipped to carry nuclear weapons. The Air Force
plans to procure both a new long-range bomber and a new cruise
missile over the next 20 years. The Obama Administration is
completing a review of the size and structure of the U.S. nuclear
force, and a review of U.S. nuclear employment policy, as it
implements the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review. It is also implementing
the New START Treaty with Russia that will limit the number of
deployed missiles and warheads in the U.S. strategic force.
Congress will review the Administration's plans for U.S. strategic
nuclear forces during the annual authorization and appropriations
process, and as it assesses U.S. plans under New START and possible
future arms control treaties with Russia.
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