KEY FINDINGS Rethinking Land-Based Nuclear Missiles

The Union of Concerned Scientists asserts that US land-based ICBMs are outdated and dangerous due to their 'launch-on-warning' status, which risks accidental nuclear war. The report argues that submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) now provide equivalent capability with greater security. It opposes the $100 billion GBSD program, suggesting that existing Minuteman III missiles can be maintained until retirement, and recommends immediately removing ICBMs from high alert.

• US policy on land-based intercontinental-range ballistic missiles (ICBMs) is outdated and creates a risk of accidental nuclear war because missiles are kept on high alert with a "launch-on-warning" option. This policy was established in the 1960s when ICBMs were more accurate than submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and communication with submarines was unreliable, but these technical limitations no longer exist.
• The United States is unlikely to retire its ICBM force due to non-security political barriers, including the economic interests of states in the ICBM Coalition, the Air Force's desire to keep a major weapons program, defense contractor interests, and a general reluctance to question the nuclear triad.
• There is no technical necessity for the $100 billion Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program, as the existing Minuteman III ICBMs can be refurbished and extended for many decades. Current flight testing rates of three missiles per year could be sustained until approximately 2050 based on existing stockpiles.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2020). KEY FINDINGS Rethinking Land-Based Nuclear Missiles. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/rethinking-land-based-nuclear-missiles-key-findings_0.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. KEY FINDINGS Rethinking Land-Based Nuclear Missiles. 2020. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/rethinking-land-based-nuclear-missiles-key-findings_0.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=KEY FINDINGS Rethinking Land-Based Nuclear Missiles |date=June 2020 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/rethinking-land-based-nuclear-missiles-key-findings_0.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2020key, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{KEY FINDINGS Rethinking Land-Based Nuclear Missiles}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2020}, month = jun, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/rethinking-land-based-nuclear-missiles-key-findings_0.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }