Senator Deb Fischer on China's Rapid Nuclear Expansion and US Strategic Command

China's Accelerating Nuclear Program

• 🇨🇳 China's nuclear arsenal is expanding at a pace that has outpaced all previous estimates, with the nation now possessing more ICBM launchers than the United States.
• 📈 China is expected to triple its nuclear stockpile by 2035, presenting a significant challenge to US strategic dominance.
• 🚀 The expansion is occurring while Russia has nearly completed modernizing its nuclear triad and is improving its tactical nuclear forces.

Modernization of US Strategic Capabilities

• 🇺🇸 The United States is undertaking a generational modernization of its nuclear triad, including the Columbia class submarine, B21 bomber, and Sentinel ICBM.
• ⚠️ Prioritizing and properly resourcing these modernization efforts is essential to meet the growing threat from adversaries.
• ⚡ The nuclear arms sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM), or 'slickum,' remains critical for deterring the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
• 💬 Nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3), referred to as the 'fourth leg of the triad,' underpins all aspects of nuclear deterrence and requires ongoing modernization.

Space Domain Threats and Electromagnetic Spectrum

• 🛰️ China and Russia possess growing counter-space capabilities that put US space assets at risk.
• 💥 Russia is developing the capability to place a nuclear weapon in orbit, while China is investing in maneuverable satellites that could target US satellites.
• 📡 Both US Strategic Command and Space Command rely on access to critical electromagnetic spectrum for their missions.
• ⚠️ Forcing the Department of Defense to vacate portions of these spectrum bands would be detrimental to US national security and incur significant costs.