US nuclear forces, 2011

Abstract

The Obama administrationõs disclosure of its stockpiled and dismantled warhead numbers through September 2009 was, apparently, a òone-time releaseó; thus, the question remains as to how quicklyñor slowlyñthe countryõs arsenal will decline. Turning to the Nuclear Posture Review and New START, the authors assess what can be expected in terms of force levels and counting rules, and they provide clear analysis of US land-based ballistic missiles, ballistic missile submarines, strategic bombers, and nonstrategic nuclear weapons. © The Author(s) 2011.