The Nuclear Arsenal | Defense News

Putin signs extension of last Russia-US nuclear arms treaty

The treaty limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance.

By: Vladimir Isachenkov, The Associated Press January 31

Extending New START is a good start for Biden

The news that the Biden administration will seek a five-year extension of the nuclear pact is welcome. But the president should not be afraid to keep going and push arms control further.

By: Eric Gomez January 28

Russian parliament OKs New START nuclear treaty extension with US

New START expires on Feb. 5. After taking office last week, Biden proposed extending the treaty for five years, and the Kremlin quickly welcomed the offer.

By: Vladimir Isachenkov, The Associated Press January 27

How effective is America’s deterrence?

Deterrence is not a static policy that can be instituted and remain effective; it needs to be maintained and updated periodically to cope with evolving conditions.

By: Stanley Orman and Maj. Gen. Eugene Fox (ret.) January 27

Russia, US exchange documents to extend nuclear pact

The pact’s extension doesn’t require congressional approval in the U.S., but Russian lawmakers must ratify the move.

By: Vladimir Isachenkov, The Associated Press January 26

To meet nonproliferation goals, Biden must commit to nuclear modernization

The threat of America's nuclear arsenal is a tool that can drive Russia and China to nonproliferation negotiations, argues John D. Maurer.

By: John D. Maurer January 22

Biden keeps Trump appointee as acting nuclear weapons chief

Verdon will become one of the few Trump national security appointees kept on in an acting capacity.

By: Aaron Mehta January 21

Biden proposing 5-year extension of nuke treaty with Russia, says US official

The treaty is set to expire Feb. 5 and is the last remaining agreement constraining U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons.

By: Matthew Lee, The Associated Press and Robert Burns, The Associated Press January 21

As Biden takes office, key nuclear and missile defense decisions loom

The incoming administration must make several decisions fairly quickly, says outgoing official Rob Soofer.

By: Aaron Mehta January 19

Four challenges to countering WMDs — and how to overcome them

Reformulated strategies and reorganizations alone will not sufficiently protect against today’s highly complex, multiregional, overlapping threats by adversaries old and new.

By: William King January 18

Trump orders DoD to explore use of nuclear power for space

A new executive order would also speed up the testing time for a nuclear reactor at a U.S. facility.

By: Aaron Mehta January 13

US Strategic Command chief defends ICBM replacement program

It's too late to pursue another life extension for the Minuteman III, the head of U.S. Strategic Command told reporters.

By: Valerie Insinna January 6

Biden should continue building intermediate-range missiles

Developing and deploying intermediate-range missiles would allow the Biden administration to propose an exchange of apples for apples in nuclear arms control negotiations.

By: Luke Griffith December 23, 2020

How Biden can reenergize strategic arms control

The extension of the New START nuclear pact is only the first step in a long process to return nuclear arms control from the brink.

By: Hans Binnendijk December 22, 2020

Why the Pentagon must think harder about inadvertent escalation

The conventional capabilities that have enabled the U.S. to reduce its reliance on nuclear weapons have also increased the risk of misperception that could spark a nuclear war.

By: Ankit Panda and James Acton December 2, 2020

Head of nuclear weapons agency unexpectedly resigns

Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, the head of the National Nuclear Security Administration, has resigned her position effectively immediately, Defense News has learned.

By: Aaron Mehta November 6, 2020

Estimate of new nuclear missiles to replace Minuteman 3 arsenal increases to $95.8B

The estimated cost of fielding a new fleet of land-based nuclear missiles increased by about $10 billion from four years ago.

By: Robert Burns, The Associated Press October 19, 2020

Putin proposes yearlong extension of nuclear pact with US

The Russian president's statement comes amid conflicting signals from Russian and U.S. diplomats about the fate of the New START agreement.

By: Vladimir Isachenkov, The Associated Press and Aaron Mehta October 16, 2020

Russia denies New START ‘gentleman’s agreement' with US

Russia is rejecting U.S. claims the two sides reached an “agreement in principle” to extend New START, their last remaining arms control agreement, casting doubt there would be an 11th hour deal before U.S. elections Nov. 3.

By: Joe Gould October 14, 2020

US sees ‘important progress’ in Helsinki nuclear arms talks

Monday’s talks are thought to have focused on producing a new agreement to replace, or to extend, the New START treaty that expires in February.

By: The Associated Press October 6, 2020