Carter lists nuclear modernization, space priorities at STRATCOM

Defense Secretary Ash Carter discussed the Pentagon's commitment to nuclear recapitalization and space operations today during a change of command ceremony at U.S. Strategic Command.

“We’re replacing many aging nuclear weapons delivery systems because if we don’t, we’ll lose them, which would mean losing confidence in our ability to deter -- something we can never afford,” he said in prepared remarks for a speech at Offutt Air Force Base, NE.

“Our necessary replacements include the long-range standoff weapon, replacing nuclear air-launched cruise missiles that enable the penetration of air defenses by our air-launched deterrent -- just the same logic as when they were first deployed four decades ago,” he continued.

Carter said other necessary replacements include the Ohio-class submarine replacement, the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent program and “investments in the nuclear command-and-control, communications, and intelligence capabilities that support our nuclear enterprise.”

The cost of replacing the U.S. nuclear triad has been pegged at about $1 trillion over its entire life cycle. Carter's speech at Offut is closely aligned with one he gave in September at Minot Air Force Base, ND, where he made the investment case for increasing nuclear modernization spending.

Meanwhile, at Offutt, Carter spoke of STRATCOM's role in space, noting the significance of the fact that Gen. John Hyten, the former commander of U.S. Air Force Space Command, is set to succeed Adm. Cecil Haney as chief of STRATCOM.

“That’s where STRATCOM’s Joint Interagency Combined Space Operations Center, or JICSpOC, comes in,” he said. “I created the JICSpOC last year to experiment with new concepts of integrated space operations, and so far it’s been very effective -- helping us identify ways to improve data sharing, hone our ability to protect and defend critical space infrastructure, and assure command and control if they come under attack.”

Carter said “some have suggested” that the Pentagon treat space as a domain separate from STRATCOM, either organizationally or operationally.

“But doing so would be a mistake,” he said. “Because every one of our missions in every domain -- air, land, sea, and cyber -- and also our potential opponents, rely on space in some way, we must integrate, not separate, everything we have and do in space. . . . STRATCOM is helping us write a playbook for future space operators to follow, by incorporating space into our operations and contingency planning.”