The Huffington Post got hold of the Nuclear Policy Review project. A version of the 64-page document defining the role of nuclear weapons in the US national security strategy is published on the newspaper's website.
The main external threats to the United States in the report prepared by the Pentagon for President Donald Trump, named the growing military power of Russia, as well as the capabilities of China, North Korea and Iran.
The Nuclear Posture Review proposes modernizing the nuclear triad, which includes strategic aviation, intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear submarine missile carriers.
In particular, it is proposed to complete the program for extending the operation of W76 thermonuclear warheads by the 2019 fiscal year. By 2024, the B61-12 multipurpose adjustable nuclear bomb, which can be used simultaneously on strategic bombers and tactical aircraft, should be adopted.
The upgrade to the W88, the 455 or 475 kiloton fusion warheads that the Trident II ballistic missile is equipped with, is scheduled for completion by 2024.
The document proposes to synchronize support for low-power (from 5 to 150 kilotons) thermonuclear warheads W80-4 and the creation of long-range cruise missiles LRSO (Long Range Stand-Off), the completion of the W80-4 operation extension program is planned for 2031.
The upgrade of the W78 thermonuclear warheads is planned to be completed by 2019, and by 2030 the W78 should be installed on the next generation GBSD (Ground Based Strategic Deterrent) ICBMs. At the same time, the possibility of using a nuclear explosive device W78 (without a thermonuclear stage) on US Navy aircraft is allowed.
Support for the B83 free-fall thermonuclear bombs with variable yield is planned until an appropriate replacement is found for this weapon.
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Separately, the need is noted for ballistic missiles adapted for use simultaneously in the systems of the US Air Force and the Navy, as well as the possibility of using nuclear weapons in non-nuclear conflicts.
The final version of the Nuclear Posture Review is scheduled to be submitted to Trump by early February 2018.
Earlier, Barack Obama's former special assistant for arms control and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, John Wolfstal, told The Guardian that the new US nuclear doctrine envisages equipping Trident II D5 ballistic missiles installed on nuclear submarines with low-yield warheads, which will remove the thermonuclear stage, but leave a nuclear explosive device.
In this case, we could talk about reducing the power of the W76 or W88, but not the W78, the adaptation of which is assumed by the "Nuclear Policy Review".
Wolfstahl noted that he had reviewed the latest version of the Nuclear Posture Review, which contained "not as many terrible things as originally thought." The Huffington Post noted that the document received by the publication is "a preliminary draft".