Nuclear deterrence and defense should no longer be thought of and structured as separate strategies argues a new paper released today by Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Analysis Center. “Deterrence and Defense in the ‘Second Nuclear Age’” carefully examines the spectrum of conflict facing the nation and suggests a new approach for meeting current and future nuclear threats.

“Central to our argument is a strategy to integrate and synchronize nuclear deterrent and missile defense systems to meet future threats, thereby providing a broad range of flexible, integrated and time-sensitive options for U.S. decision-makers,” said Dr. Robert P. Haffa Jr., Analysis Center director.

Haffa and the paper’s other co-authors, Ravi Hichkad, research associate; Dana Johnson, senior analyst; and Philip Pratt, director business development for Northrop Grumman Information Systems, presented the paper today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

In the first nuclear age, shaped by a bipolar, long-term competition between two superpowers and their allies, American defense policy and nuclear strategy relied on the primacy of deterrence over defense.

In the second nuclear age, shaped by a multi-polar security environment, emerging threats and unstable regimes, non-deterrable actors have arrived on the scene. Consequently a layered, flexibly based and rapidly deployable ballistic missile defense system is required.

“Most critically, the second nuclear age requires a more flexible, comprehensive military strategy that fuses deterrence and defense and integrates them into our national security policies and practices,” said Haffa.

Specifically, the paper recommends:

* Using the pending Quadrennial Defense Review and Nuclear Posture Review to sustain and strengthen the credibility and capability of the strategic triad;

* Directing new investments toward increased awareness of emerging threats and enhanced long range strike;

* Placing priority on building layered, global, rapidly deployable capabilities to defense against ballistic missiles; and

* Institutionalizing the operational synchronization of nuclear deterrence and defense.

Northrop Grumman’s Analysis Center is a corporate “think tank” charged with broad-ranging analyses of defense policy, military threats, industry competitors, military doctrine, operational concepts, and present and future business opportunities.