Includes bibliographical references (pages 21-22).
Contents
A mission-based view of sustainment -- Budgetary constraints -- Scope ; what is unique about the nuclear enterprise? -- Approach and perspective -- The framework -- The nuclear system of systems -- An integrated view -- Challenges and policy options to meet them -- System-level sustainment plans -- Nuclear command, control, and communications -- Other system-level sustainment plans -- An Air Force nuclear architecture and mission sustainment plan -- Improved interagency coordination and advocacy -- Maintaining human capital -- Metrics -- Summary.
Summary
The United States' nuclear deterrence is no more effective than its ability to carry out nuclear operations and other states' perceptions of this ability. The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has prioritized the reinvigoration and strengthening of its nuclear enterprise. However, there are inherent challenges to sustaining the capabilities of nuclear systems of systems. Perhaps the most pressing challenge currently facing the Air Force nuclear enterprise is sustaining the mission in the face of budgetary constraints. This report proposes possibilities for addressing this challenge. Coordination is key to this approach. Individual platforms must work together seamlessly for the nuclear system of systems to perform successfully. Any slippage in one system may cause schedule delays and increased costs for all other systems working in concert. This report outlines a double-layered framework for managing nuclear sustainment. This framework consists first of a set of sustainment plans for each system that follow a common format. The second layer, an overarching Air Force Nuclear Architecture and Mission Sustainment Plan, pulls together salient information from the individual, system-level plans to compile a master schedule for long-term mission sustainment. This framework should strengthen future nuclear deterrence capabilities through better planning and programming for the sustainment of these missions in the present.
Funding
The research described in this report was sponsored by the United States Air Force under Contract FA7014-06-C-0001.
