Why is the Nuclear Triad needed if nuclear subs can’t be realistically countered?
In: Technology
Because most nations can’t truly effectively field nuclear subs in sufficient numbers.
Even the USA, who spends way more on military than any other nation, only has a few “boomers” and they are constantly having a large portion of them in dock getting maintenance and repairs/upgrades. The new Columbia-class boomer subs are already seeing serious delays in construction and commissioning. And this is fucking America… now imagine the rest of the nuclear powers who have way fewer resources and smaller military industrial complex.
If nuclear powers could field a fleet of 40 nuclear-armed subs (assuming only about 10-15 of those actually in use actively at any point, and the majority in home port for refit and maintenance) then maybe they’d give up on other capabilities… but even then, all your adversaries would just focus on tech to try to focus on subs. Having 3 different strategies that are all field-able makes it exponentially harder for enemies to cover all types, with subs just being the most potent for a quick strike or quick retaliation
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