Should the US Spend $1 Trillion On Nuclear Weapons?

A static display of intercontinental ballistic missiles at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., front gate the evening of April 4, 2012. From left are the Peacekeeper, the Minuteman III and the Minuteman I. The planet Venus is visible in the sky above the Minuteman missiles and Jupiter is visible to the left of the Minuteman I. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat: Should the US Spend $1 Trillion on Nuclear Weapons?

Given the rapid modernization of Chinese and Russian nuclear stockpiles, some argue the US might want to.

The United States will have to spend $18 billion a year for 15 years starting in 2021 to keep its nuclear weapons operational, Kris Osborne over at military.com reports.

His assessment is based on the testimony of U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work in front of the House Armed Services Committee yesterday. The subject of the hearing was nuclear deterrence.

“We’ve developed a plan to transition our aging system. Carrying out this plan will be an expensive proposition. It is projected to cost DoD an average of $18 billion a year from 2021 through 2035,” Work noted.

WNU Editor: Building and maintaining nuclear weapons has always been an expensive proposition. And while I do expect the U.S. will be spending the money to upgrade its arsenal .... I am all for a debate on how much is enough to maintain this nuclear deterrent posture.