Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 8:11:34-8:12:26

The objection to claims of a ballistic-missile kill switch

A claimed remote disable mechanism is challenged on the grounds that an adversary would seek access to it.

British Nuclear DeterrentNuclear Command And ControlPolaris Missile
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Question

Who was proposing to put a kill switch in Britain's missiles?

Short answer

No actual proposal is identified; the preceding objection responds to claims that the United States has such a mechanism.

Notes

The preceding argument considers the vulnerability that a remote disable mechanism would introduce. An adversary would have a strong reason to seek control of it. A guest then asks who was proposing such a device. The clarification is that the argument addresses claims about American control of British missiles, rather than identifying a documented proposal.