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A nuclear triad refers to a nuclear arsenal which consists of three components. The purpose of having a trifurcated nuclear capability is to significantly reduce the possibility that an enemy could destroy all of a country's nuclear forces in a first strike attack; this, in turn, ensures a credible threat of a second strike, and thus increases a nation's nuclear deterrence.
Traditional Components
While traditional nuclear strategy holds that a nuclear triad provides the best level of deterrence from attack, in reality, most nuclear powers do not have the military budget to sustain a full triad. Only the United States and Russia have maintained nuclear triads for most of the nuclear age. Both the US and the former Soviet Union composed their triads along the same lines, including the following components:
- Strategic bombers (carrier-based or land-based; armed with bombs or missiles)
- Land-based missiles (MRBMs or ICBMs), and
- Ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs).
To be considered a part of a nuclear triad, weapons must have a first or second-strike function; without this, they are regarded as tactical nuclear weapons.
The triad also gives the commander the possibility to use different types of weapons for the appropriate strike:
- ICBMs allow for a long-range strike launched from a controlled or friendly environment. If launched from a fixed position, such as a missile silo, they are vulnerable to a first strike, though their interception once aloft is substantially difficult.
- SLBMs, launched from submarines, allow for a greater chance of survival from a first strike, giving the commander a second-strike capability. Their limited range, however, means that submarines must often be closer to its target than desirable, allowing for potential detection and tracking by an enemy attack submarine or a SOSUS-like system.
- Strategic bombers have greater flexibility in their deployment and weaponry. They can serve as both a first- and second-strike weapon. A stealth B-2 Spirit bomber armed with AGM-129 ACM missiles, for example, could be classified as a first-strike weapon. A number of conventional bombers kept at fail-safe points would constitute a second-strike weapon.
Triad Nuclear Powers
Countries which are true triad nuclear powers. These possess nuclear forces comprising of land based missiles, ballistic missile submarines, and strategic bombers.
Non-triad nuclear powers
- United Kingdom—Possesses sea based nuclear forces through its Royal Navy Vanguard class ballistic missile submarines. The Royal Air Force operated V-bomber strategic bombers throughout the Cold War, which carried nuclear weapons.
- France—The Force de frappe possesses sea based and air based nuclear forces through the Triomphant class ballistic missile submarines and nuclear capable Dassault Mirage 2000N fighter aircraft. France had land based rockets with 3.500 km radius, but this have been phased out of service since the dissolution of USSR.
- India—Possesses land based missiles and strategic bombers. The Arihant class submarine is under trial and India is developing the Brahmos cruise missile and Agni ballistic missile to fire from it.
- Israel—Israel's alleged nuclear weapons program is suspected of possessing nuclear-capable fighter aircraft (likely to be the F-15E Strike Eagle) and land-based ballistic missiles.
- Pakistan—The country's nuclear forces are land based missiles and strategic bombers. The Defense researchers are developing submarine launch capable Babur cruise missiles to complete the triad.
Other nuclear delivery systems
There is nothing in nuclear strategy to mandate only these three delivery systems. For example, orbital weapons or spacecraft for purposes of orbital bombardment using nuclear devices could be developed, and would not fit into the categories listed above. However, space-based weapon systems used for weapons of mass destruction have been banned under the Outer Space Treaty and the SALT II treaty.
References
See also
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