Restarting explosive nuclear weapons testing, or even for political reasons conducting tests that don’t generate a nuclear yield, is unnecessary and counterproductive.
The nuclear age has seen many arguments put forward in favor of abolishing nuclear weapons. So far, none has prevailed over nuclear deterrence.
If the nuclear triad is to remain viable into the 21st century, then all three of its elements ought to endure the same level of programmatic scrutiny. The Air Force’s troubled Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile is one such program that demands greater scrutiny.
The murderous terrorist attack of Oct. 7 by Hamas, coupled with daily rocket strikes into Israel from Gaza and from Hezbollah in Lebanon and constant threats by Iran to destroy it, shines a light on how Israel’s nuclear strategy requires an update and might be optimized for deterrence.
