"The element of destabilization": what threatens the US use of ballistic missiles with low-power nuclear warheads

The US adoption of low-power tactical nuclear warheads is a dangerous precedent that will lower the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.

“We drew attention to the material published on April 24 at the State Department’s website, it was devoted to the issue of creating low-power nuclear warheads W76-2 in the USA and equipping them with parts of ballistic missiles ... Trident II. The need to develop and deploy low-power nuclear weapons is presented as the US reaction to "strengthening global threats", primarily "building up the nuclear potential of Russia and China." As we have explained more than once, we consider such a step to be dangerous. He is such an element of destabilization, ”said Zakharova at a briefing.

According to her, by such actions Washington actually blurs the line “between non-strategic and strategic nuclear weapons”, which “inevitably leads to lowering the nuclear threshold and increasing the threat of nuclear conflict.”

“This is not only our opinion - a similar point of view is expressed by authoritative representatives of the American academic community, in fact, even the US Congress,” added the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Zakharova emphasized that any attack using an American ballistic missile, regardless of the characteristics of its equipment, would be perceived as an attack using nuclear weapons.

• Spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova
• RIA News
• © Vitaly Belousov

“If you want to speculate on the flexibility of the American nuclear potential, everyone who wants to do this should understand that, according to the Russian military doctrine, such actions will be considered the basis for the reciprocal use of nuclear weapons by Russia,” she said.

Against Russia and China

In February 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the latest W76-2 low-power nuclear warheads were put on alert. This measure was explained by the need to oppose Russia, which supposedly lowers the threshold for using tactical nuclear weapons with its policy.

“This will strengthen containment capabilities and provide the United States with faster and more viable strategic low-power weapons. This decision is consistent with our commitment to enhanced deterrence tactics and shows potential adversaries that the limited use of nuclear weapons does not have any advantages, since the United States is able to convincingly and decisively respond to any threats, ”the Pentagon said in a statement.

The text also explained that this step was made in accordance with the provisions of the Nuclear Posture Review of the US Department of Defense for 2018, which stated the need for “regional deterrence” of the Russian Federation, China, North Korea and counteraction to “nuclear ambitions” »Iran.

In April, the need for deploying tactical nuclear ballistic missiles was again substantiated by Washington, this time in a report by the US Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance. This agency is part of the State Department and deals with issues related to the control of strategic weapons. The authors of the document emphasized that the United States was forced to take this step because of the allegedly aggressive actions of Russia and China.

“The past few years, both Moscow and Beijing have been actively developing their ability to confront the United States in the event of a crisis with the threat of using tactical nuclear weapons. By its nature, such weapons could potentially pose an insurmountable problem for us in the early stages of the escalating conflict, the document stated. - Apparently, the Russian doctrine provides for the limited use of nuclear weapons within the theater of conflict, and this is aimed at training the Russian military. If Russia or China decides to take such a step, then we must be sure that we will not have to choose between delivering a disproportionately much more powerful nuclear strike or allowing the aggressor to achieve its goal. ”

As experts interviewed by RT noted, accusing Moscow of lowering the threshold for using nuclear weapons, the Americans do not give any evidence. Meanwhile, Russia, on the contrary, has consistently opposed the use of nuclear weapons in any form and itself, unlike Washington, has never used it.

“The point of view of our country is known, we consider it unacceptable any use of nuclear weapons regardless of their capacity,” Viktor Murakhovsky, editor of Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, noted in an interview with RT.

"Convenient tool"

The W76-2 low-power warheads are tactical nuclear weapons. This class of weapons is intended for local use against large enemy targets at the front and in the rear. Its power in TNT equivalent usually does not exceed several kilotons. In this, it differs from strategic nuclear weapons, which have a much more destructive force and are an instrument of global war. 

• US nuclear submarine USS Tennessee
• Reuters
• © Specialist 1st Class James Kimber / US Navy

Tactical nuclear weapons can be issued in the form of air bombs and artillery shells or can be mounted on missiles, in particular ballistic ones. In the latter case, experts say, a particular danger is the fact that a launched ballistic missile with a low-power charge cannot be distinguished from a similar missile equipped with strategic nuclear weapons.

This situation significantly increases the risks of a global nuclear conflict, analysts say. It is for this reason that earlier the parties tried to avoid equipping intercontinental ballistic missiles with such charges.

“For the military, a ballistic missile equipped with tactical nuclear weapons is a very convenient tool, but for global security and strategic stability, this is a huge risk factor. Outwardly, it is a ballistic missile, so it will be appropriately recognized by missile attack warning systems. As a result, the launch of such an ICBM will be perceived as the beginning of a global nuclear missile strike, which will entail a retaliatory attack and the start of a nuclear war, ”Vadim Kozyulin, an employee of the Center for Political Studies of Russia, told RT.

Moreover, as military analyst Dmitry Litovkin noted in an interview with RT, such warheads today do not fall under any international arms limitation treaties.

“They are not controlled in any way. By creating them, the Americans do not violate the existing START III treaty, since this does not increase the number of carriers. Legally, their hands are untied, ”he explained.

Technically, the W76-2 is a lite version of another warhead, the W76-1. According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), its capacity is about five kilotons, while in an older model, this figure is 90 ct. For comparison: the power of the bomb "Kid" dropped on Hiroshima was within 15 kt.

W76-2 are installed on Trident II intercontinental ballistic missiles designed for deployment on nuclear submarines. The FAS notes that the first submarine with such ICBMs on board was the Ohio-class USS Tennessee.  

According to FAS, the first W76-2 was made back in February 2019. In total, according to the Federation, the American industry produced about 50 of these warheads.

It is worth noting that W76-2 is not the only type of low-power nuclear weapon that is in service with the United States. As calculated by the FAS, Washington has a total of 1,000 units of various shells of this class. At the same time, cruise missiles and aircraft can be used as delivery vehicles. 

"Precedent type of weapon"

According to Viktor Murakhovsky, such a "flirting" of Washington with tactical nuclear weapons really lowers the threshold for using nuclear weapons.

“Our concern is justified. The Americans believe that in some cases it is possible to use low-power nuclear weapons, since supposedly this will not lead to a nuclear war. But in fact, on the contrary, it significantly increases the risks of its onset. That is why our country is opposed to this, ”he said.

Vadim Kozyulin agrees with this point of view.

“Such weapons provoke a response - this is the danger. Our diplomats constantly remind about this, ”the expert said.

In turn, Dmitry Litovkin believes that in practice Washington will not use such weapons, at least against another nuclear power. For the White House, it is rather a pressure tool.

“Nuclear weapons are a very precedent type of weapon. It cannot be simply used, since then there will be others who wish to repeat this. But as a political argument, it will be actively used by Washington. This is military-political cynicism from the US, a kind of blackmail, ”he said.

At the same time, he stressed that such actions by the United States more and more resemble the logic of the Cold War. In his opinion, Moscow and Washington should prevent a return to the arms race. To do this, they first need to roll out the START-3 treaty, and then sit down at the negotiating table to create a new agreement that would take into account all the latest technological changes in this area.

“This is an occasion to negotiate. Such things must be decided at the negotiating table in an open dialogue. But at the moment, the United States is not even in a hurry to renew START III, ”said Litovkin.

Under the current conditions, the analyst believes, Russia will take all necessary steps to ensure its own security.

“If they allow the possibility of using a ballistic missile with low-power charges to deter Russia, then we will do everything possible to neutralize this threat: to improve the missile defense system, radar detection stations for launching ballistic missiles, and continue to strengthen the nuclear missile shield,” he concluded he.