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Frontiers of Engineering Reports on Leading-Edge Engineering from the 2008 Symposium (2009) / Chapter Skim
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Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century: The Role of Science and Engineering--Joseph C. Martz and Jonathan S. Ventura
Pages 141-146

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From page 141...
... When the Cold War ended with the sudden collapse of the Soviet Union, the purpose of nuclear deterrence was fundamentally changed. Although the United States continued to retain nuclear weapons as instruments of retaliation, the dynamics of deterrence were evolving.
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From page 142...
... Can we continue on a path of nuclear reductions while maintaining the national security benefits of nuclear deterrence? Science and engineering will play a key role in the new paradigm for nuclear deterrence, "capability-based deterrence." CAPABILITY-BASED DETERRENCE Capability-based deterrence is based on the principle that an agile, repeatedly demonstrated capability to develop and produce deployable nuclear weapons will greatly strengthen the deterrent and enable meaningful reductions in the size of the total stockpile.
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From page 143...
... If an adversary decided to restart an arms race, it would require a large investment on their part, and, in principle, sufficient time for the United States and its allies to respond. In essence, the change in strategy would mean moving from the deterrence afforded by large numbers of deployed and reserve weapons to deterrence provided by a smaller number of deployed weapons and a robust and agile infrastructure and capability.
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From page 144...
... THE RELIABLE REPLACEMENT WARHEAD In the RRW study, laboratory design teams were able to provide highly mature designs in less than 12 months -- largely thanks to modern engineering and design tools created under the Stockpile Stewardship Program. In addition, the laboratories built prototype demonstration hardware and conducted limited, nonnuclear proof tests of their designs within 18 months.
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From page 145...
... 2008. Toward a Nuclear Free World.
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Key Terms

  • rrw designs
  • stewardship program
  • potential adversaries
  • stockpile stewardship
  • nuclear testing

  • nuclear deterrence
  • replacement warhead
  • weapons consistent
  • reliable replacement
  • increased performance

  • deter potential
  • performance margins
  • retain nuclear
  • national nuclear
  • nuclear nations

  • nuclear reductions
  • nuclear security
  • pursuing nuclear
  • nuclear forces
  • nuclear nonproliferation

  • deployed weapons
  • nuclear deterrent
  • nuclear umbrella
  • nuclear arsenals
  • deployable nuclear

  • growing nuclear
  • tial nuclear
  • defense posture
  • recent stockpile
  • meaningful reductions


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