Sizing Post-Cold War Nuclear Forces

Abstract

This study addresses the utility of, and need for, nuclear weapons a decade after the end of the Cold War with special focus on the numbers and types of nuclear weapons appropriate for particular requirements. The study examines the effects of post-Cold War changes in: (1) the stakes involved in international disputes, (2) the conventional balance, (3) the ideological motivations for conflict, (4) war planning, (5) counterforce and countervalue targeting goals, (6) the virtual power imparted by nuclear weapons, and (7) the conventional displacement of nuclear missions The study considers four possible uses of nuclear weapons: deterrence of attack by weapons of mass destruction, damage limitation, tactical war fighting, political prestige, and virtual power.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA408392

Entities

People

  • I. C. Oelrich

Organizations

  • Institute for Defense Analyses

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Arms Control
  • Ballistic Missile Submarines
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Cold War
  • Governments
  • Guided Bombs
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • International Organizations
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Bombs
  • Nuclear Warheads
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Second World War
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies