Under Secretary of the Air Force Melissa Dalton and other Department of Defense leaders hosted a panel discussion on modernizing the Air Force's nuclear deterrent systems during the Air and Space Forces Association's Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Sept. 18.
Joining Dalton for the panel were Gen. Anthony Cotton, United States Strategic Command commander; Gen. Thomas Bussiere, Air Force Global Strike Command commander; and Lt. Gen. Andrew Gebara, the Department of the Air Force's deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and integration.
Dalton discussed the Air Force's replacement program for its Minuteman III land-based intercontinental ballistic missile system, the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM System, describing the complex upgrade from Minuteman III to Sentinel as essential.
"The United States today is fielding the most powerful military the world has ever seen, but our national defense is underpinned by one crucial thing: our nuclear deterrent," Dalton said.
Bussiere and Cotton expounded on the concept of the U.S. nuclear triad, describing the triad's role as the most effective and proven way to achieve successful strategic deterrence across the globe.
"Since October 27, 1962, there's been ICBMs on alert," Bussiere said. "For 54 years, the Minuteman III weapon system has been standing the watch. Today ... our Airmen - operators, maintainers and defenders - are making sure our way of life is secure."
Panelists also spoke about the unique challenge of modernizing the nuclear Triad.
"We have an obligation to the nation to maintain full operational capability while we transition from legacy to new," Bussiere said. "That's going to be a very difficult, complex and complicated task, but we have no other option. We have to do it."
As the DAF continues to modernize the deterrent fleet, Dalton continuously reinforced that in an era of Great Power Competition, successful nuclear deterrence requires a holistic approach.
"We tend to focus on the missile or the bomber when we talk about modernization," Dalton said. "It's incredibly important that we get that right. But arguably, just as important are the other elements of the equation that enable that weapon system … and it really comes down to three things: people, infrastructure and partnerships."
Adding to the discussion, Cotton addressed the importance of industry in triad modernization.
"To my industry partners, you have to produce so I can present," he said. "My job is to present forces to the President of the United States. You have to produce."
Cotton also discussed how the nuclear triad contributes to stability around the globe.
"Our allies and partners are counting on us more than ever, and [they rely on] the assurance and deterrence we do daily," Cotton said. Strategic deterrence "is a national imperative. It's national policy and the foundation of what we hold dear. The framework of that is nuclear deterrence."
The panel also mentioned the Air Force's B-21 Raider program, a dual-capable penetrating strike stealth bomber currently in testing that will be capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions, supporting the bomber-based component of the U.S. nuclear triad.
Throughout the event, panelists referred to integral roles Air Force Airmen and Space Force Guardians currently play in nuclear deterrence, and the support they will continue to provide as future systems come online.
"We have a commitment to the American people and to our nation's defense to provide a nuclear deterrent that will underpin everything," Dalton said. "We have a commitment to our allies and the extended deterrence commitments that we've held for the past 70 years, and we have a commitment to our Airmen and Guardians … We have once in a generation opportunity to get this right, and we cannot fail."
The Space Force's role in nuclear deterrence was also discussed.
"Our Space Force operates our satellite constellations that are absolutely crucial to our nuclear posture," Dalton explained. "Our Guardians are standing watch, 24/7, 365, to provide indications and warnings for potential launches. They may well be our first alert of an adversarial launch."
