Taking the Pulse of the US Nuclear Arsenal

Strategic Nuclear Submarines (SSBN)

The U.S. currently operates 18 strategic nuclear-powered submarines of the Ohio-class armed with long-range ballistic missiles with nearly 3,500 nuclear warheads. The 18th and final submarine was commissioned in September 1997.

Commonly known as the Trident, ten of these submarines are based at King’s Bay Submarine Base, Georgia, and eight at Naval Submarine Base Bangor, Washington.

At any given time, between eight and 11 submarines are on patrol with 1,500-2,100 nuclear warheads, maintaining a patrol rate equal to that at the height of the Cold War. Each submarine has two alternating crews to keep it at sea as much as possible. Atlantic fleet submarines normally patrol an area in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and occasionally deploy into the Mediterranean Sea. Pacific fleet submarines patrol an area south of Alaska and occasionally transit on more distant patrols.

Simulated strike operations are conducted routinely while at sea. The crews, submarines, and land-based facilities that handle the nuclear weapons undergo a training and inspection process at least every 18 months to certify they are capable of carrying out their assigned nuclear functions.

Production of Trident II missiles continues with seven missiles purchased in FY1997, five in FY1998, and another five in FY1999 at over $1 billion. The Trident facilities at Bangor will be upgraded to handle the Trident II D-5 missile.

Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)

The United States currently has 550 Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), in two types, armed with a total of 2000 warheads. Operational ICBMs are maintained on continuous alert, and crews frequently exercise the entire launch procedure with the exception of actually firing the missiles. All units are certified through a rigorous training and inspection process at least every 18 months.

MX/Peacekeeper

Fifty operational MX/Peacekeeper missiles are based at Warren Air Force Base (AFB), Wyoming. Each missile carries ten W87 warheads. All missiles are scheduled to be retired under the START II treaty. However, the 500 W87 warheads will be retained and either transferred onto all or some of the Minuteman III missiles or kept in store as part of the reserve or "hedge" kept in case the US decides it needs to redeploy them. A new U.S.-Russian agreement has delayed retirement of the missile by six years until 2007.

Minuteman III

Five hundred Minuteman III missiles are operational. Two hundred missiles are based Malmstrom AFB, Montana, 150 missiles are at Warren AFB, Wyoming, and another 150 missiles are based at Minot AFB, North Dakota. Each missile is armed with three warheads for a total of 1500 warheads, comprised of 900 W78 and 600 W62 warheads. Under the START II treaty, each Minuteman III missile will be downloaded from three to one warhead.

At that point, W87 warheads from scrapped MX/Peacekeeper missiles will likely be re-deployed to a portion of the Minuteman III missiles and the remainder of the missiles will be armed with the W78 warhead.

Modernization is underway to extend the Minuteman III’s useable service life well into the next century. The Air Force has begun a multi-billion dollar modernization program that will extend the service life of the missile systems until at least the year 2025 and improve the Minuteman III to "Peacekeeper accuracy." The first test-launch was conducted from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, in June 1998, and the first updated Minuteman III missiles are scheduled to be delivered in 1999. Production of new solid fuel motors will begin in FY 2001.

Long-Range Bombers

The U.S. has approximately 92 nuclear long-range bombers assigned missions with nuclear weapons, the B-2A and the B-52H. A third bomber type, the B-1B, is currently assigned to conventional operations but could quickly be re-configured to nuclear missions if required. Long-range bombers are no longer maintained on constant nuclear alert but can be returned to alert status "within a few days".

Long-range bombers routinely conduct nuclear bombing training in Alaska and at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada. In addition, nuclear training and certification inspections periodically occur at each home bases.

B-2A

As of June 1998, 21 B-2A bombers had been delivered in various stages of upgrades. All are assigned to the 509th Bombardment Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. By mid-1998, ten planes were at Whiteman AFB and the remaining 11 fitting out at Edwards AFB in California.

Built to penetrate Soviet radar defenses with nuclear weapons, the B-2A continues to undergo nuclear upgrades. Sixteen Block 10 and three Block 20 planes built to deliver, respectively, B83 and B61-7 nuclear bombs, are being converted to carry both types of nuclear bombs. Two completed Block 30 aircraft already have that capability. The upgrades are scheduled to be completed in 2000.

In addition, the B-2A was designated as the carrier of the Air Force’s newest nuclear weapon, the B61-11 earth-penetrating "bunker-buster". Each plane can carry up to 16 bombs internally.

The program was reduced by President Bush to only 20 operational aircraft, but the Clinton administration authorized that another aircraft be converted to a fully operational aircraft, increasing the B-2A fleet to 21 planes. At approximately $2 billion each, the B-2A bomber is the most expensive airplane ever built.

B-52H Stratofortress

The B-52H is assigned stand-off missions with Advanced Cruise Missiles (ACM) and Air Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCM). Flight training takes place in Alaska and at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada. Periodic training and certification inspections are conducted at the home bases.

B-1B Lancer

A total of 95 B-1B planes are operational. These aircraft are no longer configured for nuclear missions but "dedicated exclusively" to conventional missions. The planes could be reconfigured for nuclear missions if necessary.

B-1B bombers are based at Dyess AFB, Texas, Ellsworth AFB, Louisiana, McConnell AFB, Kansas, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho ), and Robins AFB, Georgia.

Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSN)

As of mid-1998, the U.S. operated some 65 operational nuclear-powered attack submarines. Under current plans, this fleet will further decline to 50 boats in FY 2003. U.S. attack submarines are assigned nuclear weapons missions and are the last ships in the fleet which are capable of delivering the nuclear Tomahawk sea-launched cruise missile (TLAM/N). A total of 320 TLAM/N exist, leaving an average of almost five nuclear missiles per submarine.

Attack submarines assigned nuclear weapons missions routinely carry out simulated nuclear strike exercises while at sea. In addition, the individual submarine and crew are periodically subjected to nuclear weapons training and certification inspections in the home port.

In addition to submarines of the older Los Angeles and Sturgeon classes, the U.S. is building two new classes of nuclear attack submarines: the New Attack Submarine (NSSN) and the Seawolf.

The New Attack Submarine (NSSN)

The NSSN will replace the Los Angeles and Sturgeon submarine classes. It will be equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles armed with conventional warheads. It is also expected to be capable of launching the nuclear Tomahawk version. The NSSN is expected to be cheaper than the Seawolf, although at nearly $2 billion a piece the price remains considerable. The first unit is funded in the FY 1998 budget with two more boats funded in the FY 1999 and 2001 budgets. Delivery of the new class will begin in FY 2004.

Seawolf

Originally planned to include up to 30 boats, the Seawolf class has been reduced to only three submarines. At over $2 billion per boat, the Seawolf is the most expensive attack submarine ever built. The first unit, USS Seawolf (SSN-21), was commissioned in July 1998. The second, the USS Connecticut (SSN-22), will be delivered in 2000, and the last unit, named after former President Jimmy Carter, in FY2003.

Like other US front-line attack submarines, Seawolf submarines carry the Tomahawk cruise missile and are thought to be capable of firing the nuclear version of the Tomahawk.

Nuclear attack submarines are built at the Electric Boat Corporation in New London, Connecticut, and at Newport News Shipsbuilding in Newport News, Virginia.

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