The Triad Has Stood the Test of Time For more than six decades, the United States has emphasized the need for a nuclear force that credibly deters adversaries, assures allies and partners, achieves U.S. objectives should deterrence fail, and hedges against uncertain threats. Since the 1960s, these objectives have been met by the U.S. nuclear Triad through forces operating at sea, on land, and in the air.
Today’s nuclear Triad consists of:
14 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) armed with 240 submarine-launched ballistic missiles
400 land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)
60 nuclear-capable heavy bomber aircraft capable of delivering gravity bombs and cruise missiles
These strategic forces are enabled by a secure nuclear command and control system and supplemented by a small number of non-strategic nuclear forces that provide an ability to forward-deploy. Complementary Attributes for Robust Deterrence Each leg of the Triad provides unique and complementary attributes. Collectively, the Triad is intended to ensure that no adversary believes it could launch a strategic attack under any circumstances that eliminates the U.S. ability to respond and inflict unacceptable damage.
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