To Deter Russia, US Needs New Low-yield Nukes, says STRATCOM Head

WASHINGTON — During a congressional hearing, the head of U.S. Strategic Command defended the Trump administration's view that the United States will need new low-yield nuclear weapons to help deter Russia.

The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review recommends building two new "low-yield" nuclear weapons for the U.S. Navy: a low-yield warhead for existing submarine-launched ballistic missiles, or SLBM, and a nuclear-capable cruise missile that could be used by subs.

Gen. John Hyten, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that he "strongly agrees" the Pentagon should procure those weapons.

"That capability is a deterrence weapon to respond to the threat that Russia in particular is portraying," he said. "[Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin announced as far back as April of 2000 that the Russian doctrine will be to use a low-yield nuclear weapon on the battlefield in case of a conventional overmatch with an adversary."

That strategy has been called "escalate to deescalate," meaning that Russia would employ low-yield, tactical nuclear weapons in a conventional battle. The thought is that the United States would either be forced to escalate the conflict with higher-yield, strategic nukes — something the U.S. could be loathe to do — or to concede.

Kingston Reif, an analyst with the Arms Control Association, said the hearing makes it clear that the proposal to build a low-yield SLBM will prove to be controversial with Congress.

"And this is as it should be," he told Defense News, adding that the Pentagon's plan to revitalize its low-yield, air-launched nukes is sufficient to meet future threats.

The committee's top Democrat, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, said he was concerned that the...