August 09, 2016
The nuclear mission must stay manned
A lot of things can and should be automated—but nuclear bombers are not one of them.
Unfortunately, it’s not clear that Moscow agrees.Reports surfaced in July that Russia has begun development of a hypersonic nuclear bomber that can deliver nuclear strikes from outer space. Unnamed officials quoted in the semi-official Russian news organPravda say that the bomber will have an unmanned variant. Their statement has not been confirmed, but the idea that Russia would pursue an unmanned nuclear bomber is not new. The commander of Russia’s long-range aviation fleet, Lt. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev, stated in 2012 that Russia was considering developing a “pilotless” sixth-generation nuclear bomber.
To read the full article, visit The Bulletin's website.
More from CNAS
-
Markets React as Trump Orders Military Action in Hormuz
Video
President Trump orders the U.S. military to target any boat laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions with Iran and sending oil prices sharply higher. Bloomber...
By Becca Wasser
-
Trump: U.S. Will Work with Iran to Get Its "Nuclear Dust"
Video
Becca Wasser, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security joins CNN to discuss the nuclear situation in Iran.Watch the full interview on CNN....
By Becca Wasser
-
Iran: No Plan for Talks After U.S. Seizes Ship
Video
Becca Wasser, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, joins CNN to discuss the U.S. blockade.Watch the full interview on CNN....
By Becca Wasser
-
Embracing Private Equity in the Next Era of National Security
Commentary
Introduction For decades, the United States has fielded the world’s most advanced and capable military. It has done so despite an acquisition system that is often bureaucratic...
By General John W. Raymond & Matt O’Kane
