Nuclear weapons and the revolution in military affairs
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Authors
Geick, James L.
Subjects
Advisors
Yost, David S.
Wirtz, James J.
Date of Issue
2000-06
Date
June, 2000
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
Much of the discussion surrounding the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) presupposes that modern weapons will be able to locate and strike targets over great distances with a degree of precision that eliminates the need to retain nuclear warheads. The widespread notion that U.S. conventional weapons can replace nuclear weapons for all operational and deterrence purposes is ill- founded. Nuclear weapons will continue to play an indispensable role in U.S. national security policy. Indeed the primacy of nuclear weapons may actually increase in spite of the RMA, in three important ways: as a hedge against shortcomings in conventional weaponry; as a means to deter or counter advanced conventional weaponry; and as political-military instruments that, due to more advanced designs, may become more usable. Today, the U.S. armed forces have a commanding advantage in military capability, at least in some circumstances; but it is far from clear that this advantage will be sustained over the long term. Choices influenced by assumptions about the RMA will determine how U.S. forces are armed and prepared to fight for years to come. These choices should take into account the continuing significance of nuclear weapons in international security affairs.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xii, 90 p.;28 cm.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.