Understanding Chinese Nuclear Thinking
Li Bin, Tong Zhao
Chinese and U.S. nuclear experts communicate regularly, but these exchanges often remain difficult and inefficient. Critical differences between Chinese and U.S. thinking about nuclear weapons and deterrence result not merely from differing security environments and levels of military strength; they also exist because China and the United States have developed their own nuclear philosophies in implementing their security policies over many years. A deeper understanding of these differences sheds light on the fundamental drivers of China’s nuclear policies and how such policies may evolve in the future.
U.S. Sends Message to Adversaries With Nuclear Sub Visit, Drills
Barbara Starr and Brad Lendon | CNN
The US military is sending a double-barreled message this week to potential adversaries in the Pacific. A US Navy submarine carrying nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles is visiting Guam for the first time since the late 1980s and US and Japanese troops will practice amphibious landings on Pacific islands.
Air Force Strategy to Defend Anti-Satellite Attacks
Kris Osborn | Defense Systems
To better defend against enemy space attacks, the Air Force and Pentagon are pursuing a strategy aimed at countering the fast-emerging weaponization of space, service officials said. Earlier this year, the service mapped out a multi-dimensional space weapons defense plan, resulting from several years of space-focused analysis and research. In 2014, the service conducted a Space Strategic Portfolio Review in which the entire space architecture was assessed. By 2015, the Air Force had completed a “space situational awareness” review highlighting the range of key space security issues as a foundation for the changing strategy.
Raytheon in Tucson Wins $175M Contract for Hypersonic Missile
David Wichner | Arizona Daily Star
Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems has been awarded a $174.7 million contract to develop a hypersonic missile concept for the Pentagon. The contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is for unspecified work on the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept, which envisions a cruise missile that can travel over Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound, using a “scramjet” engine.
UN Approves Start of Nuclear Ban Talks
Kingston Reif | Arms Control Association
Defying pressure from the major nuclear-armed powers, UN member states set the stage for negotiations next year on a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons. The UN General Assembly First Committee, which deals with nuclear disarmament issues, on Oct. 27 adopted overwhelmingly a landmark resolution “to convene in 2017 a United Nations conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination.”
The Nuclear Ban Treaty and Our Wobbly Nuclear Order
Michael Krepon | Arms Control Wonk
Even after the Iran nuclear agreement, nuclear dangers are growing on four fronts – North Korea; U.S.-Russian relations; India-Pakistan, with China mixed in; and the potential for offshore frictions between the United States and China. Sure, there were more intense periods of nuclear danger during the Cold War, but only two parties were involved. Nowadays, we’re dealing with nuclear dangers along four commingled axes. Conditions are not now in place to reduce nuclear dangers on any of these fronts.