US abandons new cruise missile program

04/05/2022 07:35 GMT+7

Accordingly, the source said: “The US already has a variety of nuclear weapons to prevent potential enemies from using nuclear weapons in a limited manner.

The source said that the high cost of developing new types of cruise missiles, so they are no longer suitable.

US abandons new cruise missile program. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The United States intends to continue deploying ballistic missiles with so-called small nuclear weapons to deter Russia and China, another source at the Pentagon told Nikkei. They are being fitted to the US Navy’s attack submarines, which makes it possible for Washington to abandon the development of new nuclear-tipped cruise missiles.

Previously, the new cruise missile program was approved under the administration of former President Donald Trump in 2018. The combat deployment of the new type of nuclear cruise missile is expected to be carried out in 2018. 2030.

The abandonment of the program also meets the mood of the US’s ruling Democratic party on the left, who are demanding more radical cuts in spending on nuclear weapons, according to Nikkei sources. .

Recently, on April 1, the US Air Force announced that it was canceling a test of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Previously, the US only planned to postpone the test of this missile.

The US Department of Defense announced the postponement of missile tests on March 2 after Russia put its nuclear forces on high alert.

At the time, Washington said it was important that the US and Russia “remember the risk of miscalculation and take steps to reduce that risk”.

US Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said the decision to cancel the LGM-30G Minuteman III missile test was also for the same reason. The next Minuteman III test is scheduled to take place this year.

The Pentagon’s decision could be controversial in American politics. Republican Senator Jim Inhofe, a member of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed disappointment over the decision to delay the test, which he says is crucial to ensuring America’s nuclear deterrent remains. effective.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Lewis, a missile researcher at the James Martin Center for Non-Proliferation Studies, said the decision had no negative impact due to the highly reliable Minuteman III missile.

Peace (translation summary)