Strategic Command, Control, and Communications: Alternative Approaches for Modernization
Abstract
Over the past two decades, the United States has fielded an extensive collection of facilities and systems designed to direct and control strategic nuclear forces before and during a nuclear war. This strategic command, control, and communications system, referred to as C3, consists of ground-based radars and early-warning satellites; land-based and airborne command centers; and elaborate communications networks. The role of C3 is to alert authorities to a possible attack, permit assessment of the attack's size and targets, and convey the President's orders for retaliation. Despite the importance of these C3 systems, the recent public debate over the adequacy of U.S. nuclear forces has largely overlooked the C3 system, emphasizing instead the need to update the bombers, submarines, and land-based missiles that would deliver strategic weapons. Far less attention has been given to the C3 system, though it has been termed the weakest link in the nation's present strategic forces. The need to make major investments in C3 modernization is considered in some quarters to be an urgent one. Investment in C3 systems in recent years has largely sought to correct deficiencies in current operations and improve performance of existing assets. To that end, the Defense Department is providing "survivable" ground stations for early-warning satellites, and improving selected command-post aircraft. Compared to the expenditures projected for the offensive strategic forces over the coming 5 years, the costs of modernizing the C3 system are modest. Spending for the nuclear forces could exceed $130 billion by the end of fiscal year 1986; the three alternative approaches to C3 modernization would range in cost from $8.9 billion to $9.8 billion. The options are as follows: Option I - Improve System Responsiveness in the Trans-Attack Period, Option II - Improve System Endurance in the Post-Attack Period, and Option III - Improve Both System Responsiveness and Endurance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA474570
Entities
People
- John J. Hamre
- Peter T. Tarpgaard
- Richard H. Davison
Organizations
- Congressional Budget Office