U.S. Conventional Prompt Global Strike: Issues for 2008 and Beyond - Softcover

National Research Council; Division On Engineering And Physical Sciences; Naval Studies Board; Committee On Conventional Prompt Global Strike Capability

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0309114594 ISBN 13: 9780309114592

Publisher: National Academies Press, 2009

Synopsis

Conventional prompt global strike (CPGS) is a military option under consideration by the U.S. Department of Defense. This book, the final report from the National Research Council's Committee on Conventional Prompt Global Strike Capability, analyzes proposed CPGS systems and evaluates the potential role CPGS could play in U.S. defense.

U.S. Conventional Prompt Global Strike provides near-, mid-, and long-term recommendations for possible CPGS development, addressing the following questions:

1. Does the United States need CPGS capabilities?
2. What are the alternative CPGS systems, and how effective are they likely to be if proposed capabilities are achieved?
3. What would be the implications of alternative CPGS systems for stability, doctrine, decision making, and operations?
4. What nuclear ambiguity concerns arise from CPGS, and how might they be mitigated?
5. What arms control issues arise with CPGS systems, and how might they be resolved?
6. Should the United States proceed with research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) of the Conventional Trident Modification (CTM) program5 and, ultimately, with CTM production and deployment?
7. Should the United States proceed with the development and testing of alternative CPGS systems beyond CTM?

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Military Issues
• 3 Political, International, Policy, and Doctrinal Issues
• 4 Technology Issues
• 5 Assessment of Conventional Prompt Global Strike Options - Synthesis
• 6 Key Questions and Major Findings and Recommendations
• Appendix A: Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Appendix B: Letter from Senators Inouye and Stevens
• Appendix C: Committee and Staff Biographies
• Appendix D: Statement of Task and Congressional Language
• Appendix E: Interim Letter Report to Congress
• Appendix F: Summary of Committee Meeting Agendas
• Appendix G: The Why and How of Boost-Glide Systems
• Appendix H: Cooperative Reduction ofNuclear Ambiguity
• Appendix I: The Minuteman Option

About this title

About the Author

Committee on Conventional Prompt Global Strike Capability, National Research Council

Edition details

• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0309114594
• ISBN 13: 9780309114592
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 238