ABSTRACT
The principal function of the US nuclear force is to deter a
range of plausible threats from nuclear-armed rivals against
the US and its allies. This objective is met by keeping high-
value targets of potential nuclear adversaries constantly at risk,
and by holding nuclear forces that are rapidly employable in a crisis, and able to survive an initial attack and then respond
with devastating effect. Nuclear forces must also provide the US
president with diverse options for responding to the threat or
use of nuclear weapons. These options range from discriminate attacks on the military targets of the enemy that limit collat-
eral damage, to massive attacks on urban areas and economic
infrastructure. The US nuclear triad has maintained these
attributes for decades. Each leg of the triad can independently
deliver hundreds of nuclear weapons with a variety of explo-
sive yields against protected or ‘hardened’ military targets as
well as population centres and economic infrastructure. US nuclear forces are not intended to threaten states that
do not possess nuclear weapons, are party to the 1968 NPT
and comply with their nuclear non-proliferation obligations.
