Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:39:15-2:40:25

The recurring idea of an uncrewed SLBM platform

An uncrewed ballistic-missile platform may be proposed again, but building enough SSBNs and maintaining them properly addresses the cited deployment problem without removing crews.

Ballistic Missile SubmarinesNaval LogisticsNuclear DeterrenceUncrewed Systems
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Question

Will someone propose putting submarine-launched ballistic missiles on an uncrewed vehicle?

Short answer

Probably, but adequate numbers of maintained crewed SSBNs solve the stated deployment problem without relying on an uncrewed nuclear platform.

Notes

The idea of placing submarine-launched ballistic missiles on an uncrewed vehicle is likely to return. Its appeal is the promise of longer deployments without the burdens of sustaining a crew. Building enough conventional ballistic-missile submarines and maintaining them when required would solve the same availability problem. Fleet size and infrastructure remain the central deterrent bottlenecks in this assessment.