3 ms·

Until the dilemma presented by ballistic missile submarines can be solved, there can be no reliable first strike. Further, even if it were solved, one might im

Until the dilemma presented by ballistic missile submarines can be solved, there can be no reliable first strike. Further, even if it were solved, one might imagine proliferating smaller nuclear delivery systems all over the place (as in anything that floats). Getting them all in a coordinated, near-simultaneous way to preclude a large number of launches would be difficult.

baybal2 5y ago
If your armies are already treading enemy's soil, I doubt that would matter, unless the enemy will be nuking its own land, if this even technically possible (ICMBs have not only maximum range, but also minimum ones too, and missile guidance, radionavigation, astrogation, etc is hardcoded at least in Russian missiles.)
- LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago
  Interesting that you mention it. Exactly that is the concept in the framework of 'nuclear participation/sharing' as practiced by the USA and Germany, with about 20 to 25 free falling B-61 warheads of the 3rd or 4th generation, while having no delivery systems to 'throw' them much further than about 1500km. I guess the same applies for Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey. edit: I mean 'nuking it's own land'. [poof!] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_sharing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_sharing
  - tudorw 5y ago
    I'm glad to read that starting a war has never been easier, how fked is that.
    - aerostable_slug 5y ago
      The weapons are under American control until the last moment. The host country can't even get them out of their vaults, much less arm them. There are also mechanisms for the weapons to be command disabled which bricks them until they can be rebuilt. Fun fact: Permissive Action Links were originally conceived of to solve a fundamental problem with nuclear sharing: how do you keep a foreign rogue pilot/unit/country from starting general war with the Soviets when they have physical custody of the weapons?
      - LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago
        Yes, Yes. That is known. But tell me why you'd want to have these, old, museal and free falling things, while having no delivery system to drop them much further than on your own country under realistic conditions? That's just making you a target. Why bother at all? Because of the thrall of rather dead than red? Tomorrow, When the War Began, I'd rather rewatch both Red Dawn, Bushwick and have a real Dragon Day in The Divide. Yee-Haw!
        tudorw 5y ago
        do they still put Humvees on the silo just in case, seem to have read that somewhere, what a clever fail safe, I'm sure every other bit was engineered just as well.

baybal2 5y ago

If your armies are already treading enemy's soil, I doubt that would matter, unless the enemy will be nuking its own land, if this even technically possible (ICMBs have not only maximum range, but also minimum ones too, and missile guidance, radionavigation, astrogation, etc is hardcoded at least in Russian missiles.)

LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago
Interesting that you mention it. Exactly that is the concept in the framework of 'nuclear participation/sharing' as practiced by the USA and Germany, with about 20 to 25 free falling B-61 warheads of the 3rd or 4th generation, while having no delivery systems to 'throw' them much further than about 1500km. I guess the same applies for Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey. edit: I mean 'nuking it's own land'. [poof!] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_sharing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_sharing
- tudorw 5y ago
  I'm glad to read that starting a war has never been easier, how fked is that.
  - aerostable_slug 5y ago
    The weapons are under American control until the last moment. The host country can't even get them out of their vaults, much less arm them. There are also mechanisms for the weapons to be command disabled which bricks them until they can be rebuilt. Fun fact: Permissive Action Links were originally conceived of to solve a fundamental problem with nuclear sharing: how do you keep a foreign rogue pilot/unit/country from starting general war with the Soviets when they have physical custody of the weapons?
    - LargoLasskhyfv 5y ago
      Yes, Yes. That is known. But tell me why you'd want to have these, old, museal and free falling things, while having no delivery system to drop them much further than on your own country under realistic conditions? That's just making you a target. Why bother at all? Because of the thrall of rather dead than red? Tomorrow, When the War Began, I'd rather rewatch both Red Dawn, Bushwick and have a real Dragon Day in The Divide. Yee-Haw!
      - tudorw 5y ago
        do they still put Humvees on the silo just in case, seem to have read that somewhere, what a clever fail safe, I'm sure every other bit was engineered just as well.