New U.S. Bomber and Missile Boost Deterrence Options for Nuclear Triad

When North Korea commits a provocation, the U.S. often responds by conducting a flyover with its strategic bombers. American bombers flew over South Korea after both of Pyongyang’s recent intercontinental ballistic missile tests this month as well as nuclear tests in previous years.

Strategic bombers can display American power and its resolve to defend allies. But this message of deterrence only works when it is credible. For this reason, the United States is developing a new stealth bomber called the B-21 Raider and a new nuclear-tipped cruise missile known as the Long Range Standoff missile (LRSO). These programs will add versatility to the strategic bomber leg of America’s nuclear triad.

“The Cipher Brief has become the most popular outlet for former intelligence officers; no media outlet is even a close second to The Cipher Brief in terms of the number of articles published by formers.” —Sept. 2018, Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 62

Access all of The Cipher Brief’s national security-focused expert insight by becoming a Cipher Brief Subscriber+ Member.

Subscriber+


Related Articles

How Safe Would We Be Without Section 702?

SUBSCRIBER+EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW — A provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that has generated controversy around fears of the potential for abuse has proven to be crucial […] More

Search

Close