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U.S. review of its nuclear arsenal reveals Russia has developed an underwater nuclear drone

The Pentagon is warning that Russia has diversified its nuclear capabilities, giving it a strategic advantage over the U.S. 

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Russia has developed an underwater nuclear drone with the ability to hold a 100-megaton nuclear warhead, according to a leaked draft of the Pentagon’s nuclear posture review. 

The autonomous underwater vehicle is included in documents that feature the locations of Russia’s nuclear delivery vehicles. 

Newsweek says that officials from the Pentagon are warning in the review that Russia has diversified its nuclear arsenal, meaning it has the upper hand strategically over the U.S. 

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“Russia is developing and deploying new nuclear warheads and launchers. Russia is also developing at least two new intercontinental range systems, a hypersonic glide vehicle and a new intercontinental, nuclear-armed undersea autonomous torpedo.”

Washington Free Beacon writes the Russian undersea drone, officially known as Ocean Multipurpose System Status-6, is capable of diving nearly 1,000 metres, has a range of more than 9,600 kilometres, and a top speed exceeding 56 knots. 

The leaked  review was originally published by The Huffington Post. The Pentagon did not deny that the leaked draft was authentic but said it does not discuss pre-decisional, draft copies of strategies. 

Russia is developing and deploying new nuclear warheads and launchers. Russia is also developing at least two new intercontinental range systems

With Russia in mind, the Trump administration is aiming to develop new nuclear firepower that it says will make it easier to deter threats to European allies.

Russian T-90 tanks roll at the Red Square in Moscow, on May 9, 2014, during a Victory Day parade.
Russian T-90 tanks roll at the Red Square in Moscow, on May 9, 2014, during a Victory Day parade. Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV /AFP/Getty Images

The plan, not yet approved by U.S. President Donald Trump, is intended to make nuclear conflict less likely. Critics argue it would do the opposite.

The Pentagon review puts the U.S. in a generally more aggressive nuclear stance. It is the first review of its kind since 2010 and is among several studies of security strategy undertaken since Trump took office.

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In many ways it reaffirms the nuclear policy of President Barack Obama, including his commitment to replace all key elements of the nuclear arsenal with new, more modern weapons over the coming two decades.

It says the U.S. will adhere to existing arms control agreements, while expressing doubt about prospects for any new such pacts. The Trump nuclear doctrine is expected to be published in early February, followed by a related policy on the role and development of U.S. defences against ballistic missiles.

Where the Trump doctrine splits from Obama’s approach is in ending his push to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. defence policy. Like Obama, Trump would consider using nuclear weapons only in “extreme circumstances,” while maintaining a degree of ambiguity about what that means. But Trump sees a fuller deterrent role for these weapons, as reflected in the plan to develop new capabilities to counter Russia in Europe.

Russia and, to a degree, China are outlined in the review as nuclear policy problems that demand a tougher approach.

FILE – In this Friday, July 7, 2017 file photo President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit in Hamburg.
FILE – In this Friday, July 7, 2017 file photo President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit in Hamburg. Photo by Evan Vucci /AP Photo

The administration’s view is that Russian policies and actions are fraught with potential for miscalculation leading to an uncontrolled escalation of conflict in Europe. It specifically points to a Russian doctrine known as “escalate to de-escalate,” in which Moscow would use or threaten to use smaller-yield nuclear weapons in a limited, conventional conflict in Europe in the belief that doing so would compel the U.S. and NATO to back down.

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The administration proposes a two-step solution.

First, it would modify “a small number” of existing long-range ballistic missiles carried by Trident strategic submarines to fit them with smaller-yield nuclear warheads.

Secondly, “in the longer term,” it would develop a nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile — re-establishing a weapon that existed during the Cold War but was retired in 2011 by the Obama administration.

Together, these steps are meant to further dissuade “regional aggression,” which means giving Russia greater pause in using limited nuclear strikes.

Interest in the condition and role of U.S. nuclear weapons has grown as North Korea develops its own nuclear arsenal it says is aimed at the U.S.

In this image released by the U.S. Air Force, a Malmstrom Air Force Base missile maintenance team removes the upper section of an ICBM at a Montana missile site.
In this image released by the U.S. Air Force, a Malmstrom Air Force Base missile maintenance team removes the upper section of an ICBM at a Montana missile site. Photo by John Parie /AP Photo/U.S. Air Force

The Trump administration views the North Korean threats, along with what it sees as provocative nuclear rhetoric from Russia, as evidence that security conditions no longer support the idea that the U.S. can rely less on nuclear weapons or further limit their role in national defence.

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Hans Kristensen, a nuclear weapons specialist at the Federation of American Scientists, questions whether the administration is overstating the Russian threat and responding with the right solution. But he said it is clear that Moscow has raised fears in the West by its aggression in Ukraine.

“Clearly, the Russia situation is much more of a direct confrontational situation,” he said. “The gloves are off.”

Bruce Blair, a former nuclear missile launch officer who co-founded Global Zero, which advocates the elimination of nuclear weapons, called the report “basically a status quo document” except for the plan to develop new nuclear options for countering Russia. He worries these could lead the U.S. into “blundering into a nuclear war with Russia.” Blair based his comments partly on knowledge of the report’s content before it appeared online.

“The Pentagon’s underlying motivation,” Blair said, “is fear of Russia’s new option for striking U.S. and Western European civilian infrastructure — financial, energy, transportation and communications — with cyber and conventional forces.”

With files from The Associated Press

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