Robert Peters
For almost 80 years, America’s nuclear arsenal has served as the ultimate guarantor of security for ourselves and our allies. But our missile systems are aging and are well past their programmed lifespan. Unless dramatic action is taken—and soon—it won’t be long before our adversaries can discount any threat from the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

Our antiquated nuclear deterrent is a relic of the Cold War, with systems desperately in need of replacement. The newest nuclear weapon in the arsenal is over 30 years old. America’s Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) were supposed to be replaced when Ronald Reagan was still president, and the Navy’s ballistic missile submarine fleet will soon be overdue for its own retirement.

The good news: A modernization effort is underway. All of these Cold War-era systems are being replaced—simultaneously—with next-generation missiles, warheads, bombers and submarines. The bad news: It’s moving much too slowly if we expect to keep us safe in the years ahead.

The next-generation ballistic missile submarine, for example, is years behind schedule. The Department of Energy says that America’s nuclear enterprise won’t be producing new plutonium pits or warheads at scale until the mid-2030s.

 It’s Time To Build the Nuclear Arsenal of the Twenty-First Century

But the biggest problems are that America’s next-generation ICBM, the Sentinel program, is 87% over budget and behind schedule. This is because much of the infrastructure surrounding the rocket—the underground tunnels, the command-and-control systems, the computer systems, the wiring, the missile silos themselves—all need to be replaced, in addition to the missile itself.

In short, the United States has to rebuild the infrastructure we put in place during the Cold War.

Some have argued that the U.S. should simply “life-extend” the existing ICBM program, but the Air Force has certified that this is no longer technically feasible. Constantly switching out parts from a 1975 Cadillac and hunting for fewer and fewer specialized mechanics over time to keep it running can only last for so long before it’s cheaper and better to just buy a new car.  » Read More
https://www.heritage.org/missile-defense/commentary/the-us-nuclear-infrastructure-crumbling-theres-way-pay-it