Can the US overcome Russian and Chinese nuclear capabilities?
The Minuteman III was first deployed in the 1960s. (Photo: USAF)
The current great power competition has been shedding light on the US’s ageing nuclear inventory and the pace the country has been planning its modernisation and replacement. It has also been raising questions about whether its weapons could overcome Chinese and Russian capabilities.
Washington’s current inventory was designed and built in the Cold War era. Even with the Pentagon conducting life extension programmes and investing several billions in the development and acquisition efforts, new advanced capabilities will be expected to enter service over the coming decades.
Moscow and Beijing, on the other hand, have been increasing and improving their nuclear
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