PUNE: The US recently sounded a nuclear “alert”. And this comes from none other than Pranay Vaddi, special assistant to Joe Biden, the US president.
Vaddi, of Andhra origin, is senior director for arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation at the National Security Council of the US.
As recent as June 7, he told a meeting of the US Arms Control Association in Washington that keeping in view of the upgrades by Russia, China, and North Korea to their nuclear capabilities, “…we (US) are modernizing each leg of our nuclear triad, updating our nuclear command, control, and communication systems, and investing in our nuclear enterprise — to ensure that we can sustain and, if necessary, enhance our capabilities and posture.”
He said that as part of the nuclear modernization programme, the US is pursuing the B61-13 gravity bomb to provide additional capability against certain harder and large-area military targets.
The B61-13 is a thermonuclear gravity bomb designed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.
Pointing that the B61-13 is an example of a qualitative improvement to the US nuclear arsenal, Vaddi said that “ … it will enhance deterrence without increasing overall numbers.”
According to him, this will allow the US to move beyond the outdated megaton-class B83-1 which is being retired.
In addition, the life of certain Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines is being extended to provide additional margin during transition from legacy to modern capabilities across the triad, he stated.
“Russia, the PRC (People’s Republic Of China), and North Korea are all expanding and diversifying their nuclear arsenals at a breakneck pace, showing little or no interest in arms control,” he said.
“Those three, together with Iran, are increasingly cooperating and coordinating with each other — in ways that run counter to peace and stability, threaten the United States, our allies and our partners, and exacerbate regional tension,” he said.
On account of this scenario “… we will have no choice but to adjust our posture and capabilities to preserve deterrence and stability.”
“We may reach a point in the coming years where an increase from current deployed numbers is required and we need to be fully prepared to execute if the President makes that decision,” he stated, adding, “If that day does come, it will result from a determination that more nuclear weapons are required to deter our adversaries and protect the American people and our allies and partners.”
Vaddi said the reality is that further enhancing US capabilities and posture is incredibly important to rejuvenating strategic arms control.
Vaddi, of Andhra origin, is senior director for arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation at the National Security Council of the US.
As recent as June 7, he told a meeting of the US Arms Control Association in Washington that keeping in view of the upgrades by Russia, China, and North Korea to their nuclear capabilities, “…we (US) are modernizing each leg of our nuclear triad, updating our nuclear command, control, and communication systems, and investing in our nuclear enterprise — to ensure that we can sustain and, if necessary, enhance our capabilities and posture.”
He said that as part of the nuclear modernization programme, the US is pursuing the B61-13 gravity bomb to provide additional capability against certain harder and large-area military targets.
The B61-13 is a thermonuclear gravity bomb designed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.
Pointing that the B61-13 is an example of a qualitative improvement to the US nuclear arsenal, Vaddi said that “ … it will enhance deterrence without increasing overall numbers.”
According to him, this will allow the US to move beyond the outdated megaton-class B83-1 which is being retired.
In addition, the life of certain Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines is being extended to provide additional margin during transition from legacy to modern capabilities across the triad, he stated.
“Russia, the PRC (People’s Republic Of China), and North Korea are all expanding and diversifying their nuclear arsenals at a breakneck pace, showing little or no interest in arms control,” he said.
“Those three, together with Iran, are increasingly cooperating and coordinating with each other — in ways that run counter to peace and stability, threaten the United States, our allies and our partners, and exacerbate regional tension,” he said.
On account of this scenario “… we will have no choice but to adjust our posture and capabilities to preserve deterrence and stability.”
“We may reach a point in the coming years where an increase from current deployed numbers is required and we need to be fully prepared to execute if the President makes that decision,” he stated, adding, “If that day does come, it will result from a determination that more nuclear weapons are required to deter our adversaries and protect the American people and our allies and partners.”
Vaddi said the reality is that further enhancing US capabilities and posture is incredibly important to rejuvenating strategic arms control.
Source Agencies
