Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:53:42-1:56:10

Why nuclear ASROC is a poor answer to uncertain contacts

Uncertain target classification, radioactive consequences, and defended SSBN bastions favor precise conventional ASW over indiscriminate nuclear attack.

Anti-Submarine WarfareBallistic Missile SubmarinesBastion StrategyNuclear WeaponsRussian Navy
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Question

Would nuclear ASROC be justified rather than risk letting a Russian submarine escape?

Short answer

No: uncertain contacts demand better classification and precise conventional weapons, especially when Russian SSBNs are likely to remain inside defended bastions.

Notes

Using nuclear ASROC against an uncertain contact is rejected even when the target might be a Russian submarine. A nuclear detonation would create environmental and escalation costs while still failing the basic requirement to identify the correct target. Accurate conventional anti-submarine weapons and better classification are the preferred answer. Russian ballistic-missile submarines are also expected to operate largely inside protected northern bastions, so attacking them is not simply a matter of finding an isolated boat in open water.