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US Speeds Up Nuclear Triad Overhaul Amid Growing Global Nuclear Competition.
According to a report updated on May 1, 2025, by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the United States is undertaking a vast effort to modernize its strategic nuclear forces, involving both the Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). This program aims to ensure the credibility, flexibility, and resilience of the U.S. deterrent posture in a context shaped by the rise of nuclear-armed competitors, notably Russia and China. Estimated at $946 billion over ten years by the Congressional Budget Office, this investment includes the renewal of the three components of the nuclear triad, warhead modernization, and the upgrade of nuclear command and control systems. The DoD’s FY2025 budget request allocates $49.2 billion to support these efforts, highlighting the strategic priority given to long-term nuclear deterrence.
The Minuteman III will soon be replaced by the Sentinel ICBM (formerly GBSD), a new-generation missile integrating digital systems, advanced countermeasures, and a modular design, offering intercontinental range, improved precision, and increased resilience to a first strike (Picture source: US DoD)
The land-based leg of the triad is centered on Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), deployed from three U.S. Air Force bases in Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota. Each missile, with a range exceeding 13,000 kilometers, is powered by three solid-fueled stages and guided by an inertial navigation system. Originally capable of carrying up to three thermonuclear warheads, the missiles now carry only a single W78 or W87 warhead in compliance with New START treaty limits. Of the 450 existing silos, 400 are operationally deployed, with the remaining 50 retained as reserve or dispersal infrastructure. The current fleet has undergone life extension programs to enhance reliability and accuracy. The Minuteman III will soon be replaced by the Sentinel ICBM (formerly GBSD), a new-generation missile integrating digital systems, advanced countermeasures, and a modular design, offering intercontinental range, improved precision, and increased resilience to a first strike. The program plans to acquire 659 missiles to support the deployment of 400 operational units and testing. The Sentinel will carry the new W87-1 warhead, currently under development by NNSA. This warhead will incorporate modernized safety features, enhanced accident resistance, and fully redesigned components.
The sea-based leg of the triad is composed of 14 Ohio-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), each capable of carrying up to 20 Trident II D-5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). These three-stage missiles, guided by GPS and inertial navigation, have a range of over 12,000 kilometers and are designed to deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), including the W76-1 (100 kilotons), W76-2 (low-yield variant, 6–8 kilotons), and W88 (475 kilotons). Each submarine can carry up to 96 warheads, though the actual number varies depending on operational needs and treaty limits. Two submarines are generally in maintenance, while twelve are operationally deployed across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, with homeports at Kings Bay, Georgia, and Bangor, Washington. The Ohio-class will be replaced by the Columbia-class, which features 16 launch tubes per boat (down from 24), low-maintenance propulsion, digital systems, and acoustic reduction technologies. These submarines are expected to remain in service until 2080. The D5LE and D5LE2 programs are extending the operational life and capabilities of the Trident missiles to match the deployment timeline of the Columbia-class. Simultaneously, NNSA is developing the W93 warhead, incorporating enhanced safety features and intended to be paired with the future Mark 7 reentry vehicle.
The air-based leg is currently composed of two types of bombers: 20 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, based at Whiteman AFB in Missouri, and 74 B-52H Stratofortress aircraft stationed at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana and Minot AFB in North Dakota. The B-2 is a subsonic flying wing designed for penetrating enemy defenses and delivering B61-7, B61-11, or B83 gravity nuclear bombs. The B-52, which lacks stealth capabilities, carries AGM-86B air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) equipped with W80-1 warheads (approximately 150 kilotons), capable of low-altitude flight over a distance exceeding 2,400 kilometers. Both platforms can also carry conventional weapons. The future of the air leg is embodied in the B-21 Raider, a new stealth bomber under development for both nuclear and conventional missions, designed to operate in contested environments. Initial units are undergoing testing and limited production, with a minimum of 100 aircraft planned. The B-21 will also be equipped with the new Long Range Standoff (LRSO) cruise missile, designed to evade modern air defenses with a range exceeding 2,500 kilometers, and armed with the upgraded W80-4 warhead.
Gravity bombs are also undergoing modernization. NNSA has consolidated several B61 variants into a single B61-12 version, GPS-guided, featuring modern safety systems, and compatible with platforms such as the F-35, B-2, and future B-21. The B83 bomb, with a yield of 1.2 megatons, was slated for retirement in the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review. However, in 2023, the Pentagon announced the development of the B61-13, a new high-yield gravity bomb intended for hardened or deeply buried targets, set to replace the B83 gradually.
The sea-based leg of the triad is composed of 14 Ohio-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), each capable of carrying up to 20 Trident II D-5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) (Picture source: US DoD)
In parallel, the United States is investing heavily in the modernization of its NC3 (Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications) infrastructure, which comprises satellites, radar systems, cable networks, command centers, and secure communications platforms to ensure decision-making continuity and launch authority in all scenarios. The FY2025 budget includes $11 billion for the ongoing overhaul of this architecture, with an emphasis on improving resilience to cyber threats and space-based disruptions.
Nuclear force employment planning remains the responsibility of the U.S. President, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM). In 2024, a new presidential directive expanded U.S. deterrence objectives to address the simultaneous threat posed by Russia, China, and North Korea. The directive outlines the potential need to adapt the size, posture, or composition of the force. In March 2025, STRATCOM Commander General Anthony Cotton publicly raised the possibility of increasing the number of B-21 bombers ordered, suggesting that the current modernization plan may be insufficient to meet the challenges of a two-peer nuclear environment. This perspective aligns with the 2023 findings of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States, which concluded that the existing modernization program is "necessary but not sufficient."
In summary, the United States is implementing a comprehensive overhaul of its strategic nuclear architecture, combining the replacement of delivery platforms, warhead modernization, and the digital transformation of its command systems. This long-term effort aims to preserve a flexible, survivable, and credible deterrent posture in a global context increasingly defined by the nuclear competition between Washington, Moscow, and Beijing. By integrating technological investments, doctrinal adjustments, and sustained industrial efforts, U.S. nuclear modernization reaffirms its central role in the country’s national security strategy.