US plans new low yield nuclear weapons

[Peter1469]

US plans new low yield nuclear weapons

Russia has low yield nuclear weapons and its military doctrine calls for using them to force NATO into a peace favorable to Russia. The US could not respond with strategic nuclear weapons without risking a wholesale nuclear exchange. So the US wants to develop low yield nuclear weapons as a counter.

The Pentagon is planning to develop two new sea-based nuclear weapons to respond to Russia and China’s growing military capabilities, according to a sweeping Defense Department review of nuclear strategy.

The planned move has ignited a broad debate over future U.S. nuclear strategy at a time when the nation also faces the threat of proliferation, in particular from North Korea’s efforts to expand its arsenal of nuclear weapons and develop long-range missiles capable of delivering them.

[Tahuyaman]

The US has both tactical and strategic nuclear weapons. Is the "low yield" variety less than a tactical nuclear weapon?

[Peter1469]

The US has both tactical and strategic nuclear weapons. Is the "low yield" variety less than a tactical nuclear weapon?

They are tactical; not strategic.

[Tahuyaman]

They are tactical; not strategic.

My question is, are they a lesser yield than our current inventory of tactical nuclear weapons?

[Peter1469]

My question is, are they a lesser yield than our current inventory of tactical nuclear weapons?

I would assume the cruise missile one would be. These are just two new options to counter Russian and Chinese capabilities.

[Tahuyaman]

I would assume the cruise missile one would be. These are just two new options to counter Russian and Chinese capabilities.

That's a means of delivery. I'm trying to figure out what the yield would be. I can't find anything which discloses that. I'm guessing it's the same yield as our current stockpile of tactical nukes.

[Peter1469]

That's a means of delivery. I'm trying to figure out what the yield would be. I can't find anything which discloses that. I'm guessing it's the same yield as our current stockpile of tactical nukes.

I would imagine that the yield is classified.

[MisterVeritis]

What do we have in the inventory today?

Number of nuclear weapon types in the current U.S. arsenal: Seven

1) for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) W76 and W88 warheads
2) for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) W78 and W87 warheads
3) for the air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) W80 warheads
4) for gravity bombs B61 (multiple variants) and B83. (Some variable yield nuclear warheads such as the B61 nuclear bomb have been produced in both tactical and strategic versions. Whereas the lowest selectable yield of a tactical B61 (Mod 3 and Mod 4) is 0.3 kilotons (300 tons),^[17]With the introduction of the B61 Mod 12, the United States will have four hundred identical nuclear bombs whose strategic or tactical nature will be set purely by the mission and target as well as type of aircraft on which they are carried [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactical_nuclear_weapon]

https://www.brookings.edu/research/50-facts-about-u-s-nuclear-weapons-today/

Are there other weapons?

[jimmyz]

Any new idea to keep pace with Russian and Chinese low yield weapons deployment and use doctrine is a good idea.

[MisterVeritis]

I would imagine that the yield is classified.

I am confident the yield will be selectable. I have a range of yields in mind but won't speculate.