A Different Path to Nuclear Arms Reductions

Opponents of the Conventional Trident Modification (a non-nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missile), European-based long-range missile defenses, and the Reliable Replacement Warhead (a new nuclear warhead) have exaggerated the possible drawbacks of these capabilities and overlooked the opportunities they represent. Deployment of long-range non-nuclear strike systems (like the Conventional Trident Modification), missile defenses, and the Reliable Replacement Warhead (along with improvements in the nuclear weapons infrastructure) over time could diminish the requirements for nuclear weapons and enable further reductions in the size of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.