EVOLUTION OF THE US SEA-BASED NUCLEAR MISSILE DETERRENT: WARFIGHTING CAPABILITIES

About the Book

This historical research study traces and analyzes the technological development and force deployment of US submarine-launched strategic nuclear ballistic missiles, and the evolution of their military missions - during and after the Cold War - from countervalue (civilian, political and economic targets) strategic deterrence to the wider range of strategic and theater-tactical nuclear/conventional military force targeting, characteristic of counterforce or warfighting capabilities. Scope of this study also includes: US nuclear ballistic missile submarine survivability against antisubmarine warfare operations, and the role of the US fleet ballistic missile force in current 21st Century regional and global military threat scenarios, and beyond.

About the Author

A Defense Department consultant, George Refuto has extensive academic and professional experience in the fields of military history, weapon systems technology, intelligence-surveillance reconnaissance systems, and US national security/defense policy. He has worked in both the defense and intelligence communities, and holds a Master of International Affairs degree from Columbia University with specializations in US/USSR strategic and theater/tactical nuclear forces, undersea and airborne naval weapon systems, and Russian-Soviet politics.