2026-09-19T03:25:01Zhttps://dspace.mit.edu/server/oai/requestoai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/769532022-01-13T07:54:37Zcom_1721.1_7582com_1721.1_7581col_1721.1_131024
Vipin Narang.
Laderman, Sarah (Sarah Jane)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Nuclear Science and Engineering.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering
n-us---
2013-02-14T15:31:42Z
2013-02-14T15:31:42Z
2012
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/76953
824621783
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Science and Engineering, 2012.
"June 2012." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 39-40).
The global political climate has called for reductions to nuclear arsenals around the world. This thesis researches how potential deep cuts to the United States' large strategic nuclear arsenal would affect its current nuclear deterrence goals. First, case studies on pre-1960 United States, 1964-2012 France, and 1964-2012 China are conducted to understand how a small nuclear arsenal should be constructed in order to prevent nuclear attack from countries with large nuclear arsenals. The lessons learned from these case studies, the current United States deterrence requirements, and the destructive effects from different warheads are then used to propose a potential composition of a small nuclear arsenal for the United States. The proposal consists of only around 500 warheads (in comparison to the current 2,000 the US has on deployment) and achieves United States deterrence goals through its vast destructive capability, variability, and survivability if targeted against in a first nuclear strike.
by Sarah Laderman.
S.B.
40 p.
eng
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.I.T. theses are protected by
copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582
Nuclear Science and Engineering.
Minimal nuclear deterrence : a nuclear arsenal reduction plan for the United States
Nuclear arsenal reduction plan for the United States
Thesis
application/pdf
Publication
unknown
unknown
<Publication xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/1.1/" id="35a13ed6-c0a1-4a63-8fe0-26b759f042c8">
<Type xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/vocab/COAR_Publication_Types">http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_1843</Type>
<Language>eng</Language>
<Title>Minimal nuclear deterrence : a nuclear arsenal reduction plan for the United States</Title>
<Subtitle>Nuclear arsenal reduction plan for the United States</Subtitle>
<PublishedIn>
<Publication>
</Publication>
</PublishedIn>
<PublicationDate>2012</PublicationDate>
<Authors>
<Author>
<DisplayName>Laderman, Sarah (Sarah Jane)</DisplayName>
<Affiliation>
<OrgUnit>
</OrgUnit>
</Affiliation>
</Author>
</Authors>
<Editors>
</Editors>
<Publishers>
<Publisher>
<DisplayName>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</DisplayName>
<OrgUnit />
</Publisher>
</Publishers>
<License>http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582</License>
<Keyword>Nuclear Science and Engineering.</Keyword>
<Abstract>The global political climate has called for reductions to nuclear arsenals around the world. This thesis researches how potential deep cuts to the United States' large strategic nuclear arsenal would affect its current nuclear deterrence goals. First, case studies on pre-1960 United States, 1964-2012 France, and 1964-2012 China are conducted to understand how a small nuclear arsenal should be constructed in order to prevent nuclear attack from countries with large nuclear arsenals. The lessons learned from these case studies, the current United States deterrence requirements, and the destructive effects from different warheads are then used to propose a potential composition of a small nuclear arsenal for the United States. The proposal consists of only around 500 warheads (in comparison to the current 2,000 the US has on deployment) and achieves United States deterrence goals through its vast destructive capability, variability, and survivability if targeted against in a first nuclear strike.</Abstract>
<Access xmlns="http://purl.org/coar/access_right"
>
</Access>
</Publication>