Russia and the US’s terrifying new arms race as world powers race to develop ‘mini’ nukes they can actually use
World powers want less-explosive warheads that could actually be used in the event of a conflict
VLADIMIR Putin and Donald Trump want to overhaul their already terrifyingly deadly nuclear arsenals and build smaller "tactical" nukes as tension between the former Cold war rivals grows.
Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu recently announced his country's ageing yet deadly nuclear stockpile should be given a high-tech overhaul after a leaked report revealed President Trump wanted a new batch of smaller “low yield” nuclear warheads because his current nukes are too deadly to use.
Shoigu said the proportion of state-of-the-art weapons in Russia’s nuclear arsenal should be at least 90% by 2021, reports TASS.
"The main focus should be made on further bolstering strategic nuclear power," he said at a Russian Defence Ministry meeting.
"The share of advanced armaments in the Russian nuclear triad should constitute at least 90% by 2021,.
He added: "The army will be receiving more precision-guided weapons and cutting-edge systems of reconnaissance, communications and electronic warfare, as well as modern military gear."
In March 2018, Putin gave a boastful address in Moscow where he claimed Russia was developing an "unstoppable" nuclear missiles unable to be intercepted by any nations' defences.
The newly developed intercontinental ballistic rocket has "unlimited range", the Russian leader said in his state of the nation address.
Russia has thousands of "Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons" - another name for "tactical" weapons that could be used on the battlefield.
In May 2017, General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO and Commander of US European Command, said he was concerned by: "Moscow’s substantial inventory of non-strategic nuclear weapons in (Europe) and its troubling doctrine that calls on the potential use of these weapons to escalate its way out of a failing conflict."
And Russian President Vladimir Putin last month said he wants "missile systems that are capable of confidently overcoming existing and even projected missile defence systems".
The plans to develop lower-explosive warheads for US Trident missiles in a £30billion shake-up were revealed in a draft version of the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR).
It calls for “significant investment” in deterrence weapons that could actually be unleashed to combat the “unprecedented threat” from North Korea, Russia and China.
The new nuke policy, obtained by , makes the case for an arsenal of more usable “low yield” nukes that would make enemies think twice before attacking.
“Expanding flexible US nuclear options now, to include low-yield options, is important for the preservation and credible deterrence against regional aggression,” the report states.
“These supplements will enhance deterrents by denying potential adversaries any mistaken confidence that limited nuclear employment can provide a useful advantage over the US and its allies.
“It will raise the nuclear threshold and ensure that potential adversaries perceive no possible advantage in limited nuclear escalation, making nuclear employment less likely.”
It claims the expansion of America’s nuclear capabilities is not intended to enable “nuclear war fighting”.
The moves are seen as a deterrent to North Korea, Russia and China.
But arms control advocates have voiced concern at the plans, arguing it makes a nuclear war more likely.
Alexandra Bell, a former senior adviser at the State Department, said at the time: “Making the case that we need more low-yield options is making the case that this president needs more nuclear capabilities at his disposal.
“We have 4,000 nuclear weapons in our active stockpile, which is more than enough to destroy the world many times over.”
Jon Wolfsthal, who was special assistant to Barack Obama on arms control, said the new nukes are intended to deter Russia from using tactical warheads in a conflict in Eastern Europe.
But he said the modified version of the Trident D5 submarine-launched missiles, with just the primary (fission) part of its thermonuclear warhead, was “totally unnecessary”.
This is because the US already has low-yield weapons, B61 gravity bombs and air-launched cruise missiles, in its arsenal.
The US already has 1,000 nuclear warheads in its arsenal with low-yield options, according to reports.
The review attempts to make the case for expanding the US arsenal and loosening constraints on the use of nuclear weapons by discussing the “unprecedented” threat.
It states that there is increased uncertainty and risk from a range of threats, including chemical, biological, nuclear, space and cyber threats.
“While the US has continued to reduce the number and salience of nuclear weapons, others, including Russia and China, have moved in the opposite direction.
“They have added new types of nuclear capabilities to their arsenals and engaged in increasingly aggressive behaviour, including in outer space and cyber space.
North Korea was branded the “most immediate and dire proliferation threat to international security and stability”.
The report raised fears that Kim Jong-un's hermit kingdom could be "months away" from striking the US with an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
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It is thought that the changes to the US nuclear program could cost as much as $40.9 billion (£30billion).
This is based on the government figures which stated it would make up 6.4 per cent of the Department of Defence 2018 budget.
In May last year, Trump proposed a budget of $639.1 billion for defence.
The nuclear posture review (NPR), the first in eight years, is expected to be published after Trump’s State of the Union speech at the end of January.