The US Defence Department says its new low-yield nuclear weapons will allow it to decisively respond to any threat scenario from countries like Russia.
The US Defence Department says its Navy now has a low-yield, submarine-launched ballistic missile warhead, something the Pentagon believes is needed to deter adversaries like Russia but which critics say lowers the threshold for using nuclear weapons.
"This supplemental capability strengthens deterrence and provides the United States a prompt, more survivable low-yield strategic weapon," John Rood, the under secretary of defence for policy, said in a statement. " supports our commitment to extended deterrence; and demonstrates to potential adversaries that there is no advantage to limited nuclear employment because the United States can credibly and decisively respond to any threat scenario."
A 2018 Pentagon document called for the military to expand its low-yield nuclear capability, saying the United States would modify a small number of submarine-launched ballistic missile warheads with low-yield options. "The administration's decision to deploy the W76-2 warhead remains a misguided and dangerous one," Democratic Representative Adam Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement.
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