Navy Set to Deploy New Low-Yield Warhead, Enhance Deterrence

In the next few months, the US Navy will likely begin deployment of a new low-yield nuclear warhead on some of its Trident II D5 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles.This is in accordance with the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review.The National Nuclear Security Administration has just released a mission logo for the program.It started producing the new W76-2 variant warheads in January 2019.The warhead was designed by the Los Alamos National Laboratory,New Mexico.*
The W76-2 may be detonated either by contact or airburst.The NNSA plans to complete the production run and deliver the warheads to the Navy by late 2019.The Trump Administration perceived a need for additional tailored and flexible capabilities to address the danger of coercive nuclear use by Russia and North Korea.The Nuclear Posture Review said the low-yield warhead would enhance deterrence by denying potential adversaries any mistaken confidence that limited nuclear employment can provide a useful advantage over the United States and its allies.*
The W76-2 will not add to the number of deployed SLBM warheads; but replace some of the high-yield warheads already deployed.Russia has wargamed low-yield nuclear weapon use in a regional conflict.So the W76-2 could bolster deterrence by convincing Russia the US could respond with its own proportional, limited attack.*
Putting low-yield weapons on submarines offers improved survivability and penetration because aircraft delivery is vulnerable to an adversary's​ air defences.*
Russian military doctrine envisions the use of low-yield nuclear weapons in a scenario where Russia is losing a conventional war.*
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Washington) says it is very unlikely Congress will block the program.

If Baghdad Falls-What Would Draw the US Further Into The War?

On 17 June 2015,the outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,General Martin Dempsey,US Army,and Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter testified before the House Armed Services Committee about the War On ISIL,with frank discussion of what circumstances would possibly increase US involvement.GEN Dempsey outlined the context of the conflict with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant by noting that:
1.Several governments in the region are struggling for political legitimacy.
2.There is a rivalry between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
3.There is rising competition between radical and moderate Islam.This will continually challenge the region's security forces.
We have an appropriate level of effort.This is an Iraq first strategy,but not an Iraq only one.We are at the beginning of a complex,non-linear campaign.We are constantly evaluating our approach and making sure we are resourcing it appropriately.
This has to be them winning.In our military campaign,we are on the path to delivering that which we are committed to providing:the ability to defeat ISIL on their sovereign territory.We're trying to build a network that will enable the region's players to confront this threat.
Why are we not targeting known ISIL assets?Leadership targets,fuel targets are authorised.We do strike those targets.The limitation is to try to avoid civilian casualties.Commander CENTCOM has the authority to select targets.Consider that 397 strike aircraft and 1650 pilots fly these missions every day.In my judgement,the avoidance of civilian casualties is not the limiting factor of our success against ISIL.
I think our strategy matches the complexity of what we're dealing with.The reality is,some of our Sunni partners are more worried about Iran's influence than they are about ISIL.We're reaching out to Sunnis at the request of Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi.
We've got almost 50% of intelligence,search and rescue unmanned assigned to Iraq/Syria.We of course are looking at points discrete where we might be providing additional resources to the Iraqi Security Forces where it would be strategically significant.Potentially,for example,an assault on Mosul,but I would be hesitant to make that permanent because we want them to do it independently.
If Iraq fails,added Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter,we will still try to enable local ground forces if they are willing to partner with us,but there wouldn't be a unified state.If Baghdad falls-I don't see that particular scenario as very likely,because Prime Minister Abadi has surrounded Baghdad with what remains,and the fact that they are Shia will make them fight fiercely.
What would make us more kinetic?asked GEN Dempsey:
1.A credible threat to the homeland.
2.A credible threat to our forces.
For example,I believe another 9-11 probably would draw us in.
Could we go in there and do a better job against ISIL?Absolutely,but we'd be back there two years from now.I would not recommend that we put US forces in harm's way simply to stiffen the spine of Iraqi Security Forces.If the threat from ISIL doesn't stiffen them,we won't,either.If the ISF go on the offensive with a strategic target,I would certainly go to the Secretary of Defense and have that conversation of how to increase their effectiveness,but not just to stiffen their spines,GEN Dempsey told the House Armed Services Committee.

2nd Cavalry Regiment Seeks Cannon Upgrade as Europe Heats Up

A US Army Europe unit,the 2nd Cavalry Regiment,which was deployed to the Baltic States when Russia invaded Crimea,has requested new,more powerful cannons for 81 of its Stryker infantry fighting vehicles.The Regiment wants 30 mm cannons to replace their current 12.7 mm armament-more than doubling their combat power.The US Army approved the request last Wednesday and the House Armed Services Committee is setting money aside for the upgrade as well,the Breaking Defense website learned from a memo.
The Regiment is concerned about countering the Russian BMP-3 amphibious infantry combat vehicle,which also has a 30 mm autocannon 2A72;a 100 mm gun/launcher that can fire anti-tank guided missiles;plus 3 7.62 mm PKT machine guns.*
Last Thursday,NATO accused Russia of mounting a buildup on the border with Ukraine that could facilitate a Blitzkrieg attack by Russian-backed separatists in Eastern Ukraine.More than 1,000 pieces of Russian military equipment,including tanks,artillery and air defence units have been massed on the border over the past month,NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg complained.What is more,Russia is stepping up the shipment of supplies to the separatist forces and providing advanced training and drones to them.The US State Department added that Russia has deployed air defence systems in Eastern Ukraine and that joint Russian-separatist forces are maintaining artillery and rocket launchers in violation of the current ceasefire arrangements.*
Russia is angered by US paratroopers from the 173d Airborne Brigade being on a six-month deployment to Western Ukraine for a training mission with six Ukrainian National Guard units,charging that they are in fact in Eastern Ukraine.*
The US currently has no permanently based tank forces in Europe,so the forward-deployed Stryker would have an even more critical role in the event of a crisis.General Dynamics manufactures the Stryker line of IFVs.*
General Dynamics (GD)

Hagel and Dempsey on US Strategy in Iraq

There are limited signs of progress in Iraq three months after the air campaign began,US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the House Armed Services Committee last week.The advance by ISIL in parts of Iraq has stalled,and in some cases been reversed,by Iraqi,Kurdish and tribal forces supported by US-led coalition air strikes.More than 130 of the more than 800 strikes since 8 August have been by coalition partners,including Canada,which made its first sorties last week.The coalition consists of 12 nations.*
Some 1500 new US troops supplementing the 1400 already in Iraq will work out of Joint Operations Centers in Baghdad and Irbil,as well as four new training centers in North,West and Central Iraq.*
The US is certainly considering putting boots on the ground to advise and call in airstrikes on the frontlines,Joint Chiefs Chairman General Martin Dempsey added.The Iraqi trops are doing a better job,but there are places that will be beyond them,such as Mosul and the Syrian border.We're considering US forces accompanying Iraqi troops.In Syria,our actions against ISIL are focused on shaping the dynamic in Iraq,which remains the priority of our counter-ISIL strategy.*
We are sober about the challenges we face as ISIL exploits the complicated,long-running Syrian conflict,Secretary Hagel explained to the Members of Congress.

Whether a Military Strike is War

The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the Syria crisis Tuesday,at which a number of miltary issues were hashed out.Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel spoke about the Russian proposal that Syria surrender its chemical weapons to international control,saying that the proposal has to come rapidly.I would assume this is on a very fast track.*
A concern about the aftermath of military action was raised.There is always unpredictability anytime when a strike option is taken,Mr.Hagel said.There are a significant number of responsible individuals in the Syrian opposition.We have been vetting them through our partners that are in the opposition.The strikes and the options we have given the president have all factored in the uncertainty.
If we do nothing,Assad will continue to do what he's doing and worse.We have exhausted almost every diplomatic option in this effort.We believe,based on our intelligence and our partners in the area,if we carry forward,this will specifically deter and degrade.If Assad should accelerate and use chemical weapons again,my guess would be the president would come back to the Congress and ask for further authorization.*
General Martin Dempsey,Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,said it's challenging to vet the rebels,but we have a methodology.*
A discussion arose as to whether even a limited strike amounts to war.In an article,General Dempsey wrote that "the use of force is no less than an act of war."To a soldier,when you put them in a conflict,it tends to be a war,he told the House Armed Services Committee.Secretary Hagel,a Vietnam veteran,agreed that's how it is.
Our ability to over-match regime forces and our forward presence leads us to believe we can handle retaliation,General Dempsey continued.*
Turkey,Saudi Arabia,Qatar and France would participate in military action in some way.President Obama's first priority has been and is diplomacy-all to date to no avail,Secretary of State John Kerry told the committee.Russia and China have vetoed all UN resolutions,and even press releases condemning the generic use of chemical weapons.General statements have been blocked.We're waiting for that Russian proposal,but we're not waiting for long.It cannot be simply a debating society in the UN.*
Mr.Kerry will meet Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva,Switzerland on Thursday to discuss the Russian proposal.Meanwhile,the president has ordered US forces in the region to remain on standby while the diplomatic process runs its course,ready to strike should it ultimately fail.