De-alerting
De-alerting introduces some reversible physical change(s) to nuclear weapons or weapon systems in order to lengthen the time required to use nuclear weapons in combat.[1] Because thousands of strategic nuclear warheads mounted on ballistic missiles remain on high-alert, launch-ready status, capable of being launched in only a few minutes,[2] de-alerting has been proposed as a means to reduce likelihood that these forces will be used deliberately or accidentally.[3]
De-alerting can be used to rapidly implement existing nuclear
It has been proposed that de-alerted nuclear weapon systems be classified into at least two categories or stages.
Examples of de-alerting
- Placing large, visible barriers on top of satellites).[1]
- Removing or altering firing switches of missiles to prevent rapid launch.
- Removing batteries, gyroscopes, or guidance mechanisms from rockets or re-entry vehicles.
- Removing warheads from missiles and storing them in a separate, monitored location. Technical means could be engineered to provide frequent checks that nuclear missiles posed no immediate threat.[4]
Limitations
De-alerting may require negotiations and verification procedures in order to accomplish symmetrical force reductions on both sides.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Starr, Steven. "An Explanation of Nuclear Weapons Terminology" Archived 2008-03-08 at the Wayback Machine. Nuclear Age Peace Foundation 2008.
- ^ Blair, Bruce G. "A Rebuttal of the U.S. Statement on the Alert Status of U.S. Nuclear Forces" Archived 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine. The Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy 2007.
- ^ Blair, Bruce G. "Global Zero Alert for Nuclear Forces". Brookings 1995
- ^ a b Blair, Bruce G., Feivieson, Harold A., von Hippel, Frank. "Taking Nuclear Weapons off Hair-Trigger Alert". Scientific American, November 1997, pp. 42-49.
- ^ Phillips, Alan and Starr, Steven. "Change Launch on Warning Policy". Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental Studies 2006.
- ^ Phillips, Alan and Starr, Steven. "Eliminate Launch on Warning Policy" Archived 2008-11-19 at the Wayback Machine. Nuclear Age Peace Foundation 2004
- ^ NTI Issue Brief: Presidential Nuclear Initiatives: An Alternative Paradigm for Arms Control, 2004; http://www.nti.org/e_research/e3_41a.html
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