Adm. Charles Richard

Hyten: China’s ‘Unprecedented Nuclear Modernization’ Chief Concern

Chinese DF-5B Nuclear Weapons. People’s Liberation Army Photo

The speed of China’s “unprecedented nuclear modernization” and its “build-out of a modernized triad” is the biggest concern for the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as he nears the end of his tenure.

In the last year, the Chinese have built two new ballistic missile silo fields for their intercontinental ballistic missiles.

“There’re no limits on what they can put in those silos,” adding to the threat, Air Force Gen. John...

https://news.usni.org/2021/09/14/hyten-chinas-unprecedented-nuclear-modernization-chief-concern

STRATCOM: China’s Pursuit of Nuclear and Hypersonic Weapons Adds Urgency to U.S. Deterrence

Artist impression of 3M22 Tsirkon / Zircon hypersonic missile via Naval News

China’s recent full-speed-ahead breakout in nuclear forces, space and cyber efforts, and hypersonic systems adds new urgency to America’s need to ensure its deterrence systems are holding, U.S. Strategic Command’s top officer said Thursday.

Adm. Charles Richard said the United States has never before “faced two peer opponents” with extensive nuclear weapons arsenals and high-technology systems capable of operating across...

https://news.usni.org/2021/08/26/stratcom-chinas-pursuit-of-nuclear-and-hypersonic-weapons-adds-urgency-to-u-s-deterrence

Summary of Low-Yield Nuclear Warhead Debate

The following is the Jan. 5, 2021 Congressional Research Service In Focus report, A Low-Yield, Submarine-Launched Nuclear Warhead: Overview of the Expert Debate.

From the report

The Low-Yield D-5 Warhead

The Trump Administration developed a new low-yield version of the W-76 warhead for existing submarine-launched Trident II (D-5) missiles. Unclassified sources state that the existing W76-1 warhead has an explosive yield of around 100 kilotons. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)...

https://news.usni.org/2021/01/06/summary-of-low-yield-nuclear-warhead-debate

STRATCOM: U.S. Needs ‘Broader-Based Strategic Review’ To Assess Threats

An unarmed Trident II D5 missile launches from the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN-739) off the coast of California. US Navy Photo

The United States should conduct a new broad strategic review to evaluate global threats and determine its strategy, the head of U.S. Strategic Command said Tuesday.

During a virtual roundtable hosted by the Defense Writer’s Group, Adm. Charles Richard said he supports reassessing the nuclear posture review, but argued for a holistic approach...

https://news.usni.org/2021/01/05/stratcom-u-s-needs-broader-based-strategic-review-to-assess-threats

STRATCOM CO: Chinese, Russian Build Up of Nuclear Weapons Will ‘Test’ U.S. Strategic Deterrence

Borei-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine Vladimir Monomakh (SSBN). Russian Navy Photo

The U.S. is facing a more complex strategic deterrence problem as both China and Russia continue to modernize their nuclear and conventional weapons, the head of U.S. Strategic Command said on Thursday.
“This is the first time we’re going to face two-nuclear capable adversaries,” Adm. Charles Richard said during remarks at the Mitchell Institute.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union the U.S. has “not...

https://news.usni.org/2020/07/30/stratcom-co-chinese-russian-build-up-of-nuclear-weapons-will-test-u-s-strategic-deterrence