Who expected terrorists to fly airplanes into buildings? Seeking to get ahead of terrorists' scheming, this thesis examines when and how terrorists, on acquiring a nuclear device, might choose to deliver it against the United States in a midget submarine (or SSM, as the U.S. Navy designates it). If determined nuclear smugglers think the United States will uncover their plan and try to stop them, they will likely look for a delivery vehicle to elude interdiction. Terrorists may believe that, given the large area the Coast Guard patrols, an SSM has a good chance of avoiding sensors and thereby interdiction. Likewise, terrorists may imagine that, even if an SSM is picked up by sensors, sensor operators will be unable to distinguish the tiny submarine from similar-looking contacts. After outlining a potential terrorist concept of operations, this paper recommends steps by which the United States can make this smuggling undertaking more risky. American authorities should track acquisition of platforms or support equipment, receipt of training, and conduct of SSM operations. If the United States receives a report that terrorists are attempting to smuggle a nuclear device in an SSM, this information may help analysts assess what type of SSM terrorists may be using, how proficient their crew is, and what route the craft may be taking. Such assessments, in turn, may help the Navy and Coast Guard narrow their search area, recognize their target SSM, and customize their interdiction strategy. If authorities do nothing to make SSM smuggling more difficult, terrorists will have a free pass to bring their weapon to U.S. soil.
","abstract_html":"<p>Who expected terrorists to fly airplanes into buildings? Seeking to get ahead of terrorists' scheming, this thesis examines when and how terrorists, on acquiring a nuclear device, might choose to deliver it against the United States in a midget submarine (or SSM, as the U.S. Navy designates it). If determined nuclear smugglers think the United States will uncover their plan and try to stop them, they will likely look for a delivery vehicle to elude interdiction. Terrorists may believe that, given the large area the Coast Guard patrols, an SSM has a good chance of avoiding sensors and thereby interdiction. Likewise, terrorists may imagine that, even if an SSM is picked up by sensors, sensor operators will be unable to distinguish the tiny submarine from similar-looking contacts. After outlining a potential terrorist concept of operations, this paper recommends steps by which the United States can make this smuggling undertaking more risky. American authorities should track acquisition of platforms or support equipment, receipt of training, and conduct of SSM operations. If the United States receives a report that terrorists are attempting to smuggle a nuclear device in an SSM, this information may help analysts assess what type of SSM terrorists may be using, how proficient their crew is, and what route the craft may be taking. Such assessments, in turn, may help the Navy and Coast Guard narrow their search area, recognize their target SSM, and customize their interdiction strategy. If authorities do nothing to make SSM smuggling more difficult, terrorists will have a free pass to bring their weapon to U.S. soil.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Inglis, Melanie Sarah"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies","degree_level":"Masters","degree_discipline":"Defense and Strategic Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Robert Joseph"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2008,"date_issued":"2008-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2008-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:16:37Z","subjects":["nuclear smuggling","midget submarine","terrorists","deterrence","interdiction","Defense and Security Studies"],"languages":[],"rights":["© Melanie Sarah Inglis"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1436","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Robert Joseph"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Inglis, Melanie Sarah"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Defense and Strategic Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["nuclear smuggling","midget submarine","terrorists","deterrence","interdiction","Defense and Security Studies"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["© Melanie Sarah Inglis"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1436"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Who expected terrorists to fly airplanes into buildings? Seeking to get ahead of terrorists' scheming, this thesis examines when and how terrorists, on acquiring a nuclear device, might choose to deliver it against the United States in a midget submarine (or SSM, as the U.S. Navy designates it). If determined nuclear smugglers think the United States will uncover their plan and try to stop them, they will likely look for a delivery vehicle to elude interdiction. Terrorists may believe that, given the large area the Coast Guard patrols, an SSM has a good chance of avoiding sensors and thereby interdiction. Likewise, terrorists may imagine that, even if an SSM is picked up by sensors, sensor operators will be unable to distinguish the tiny submarine from similar-looking contacts. After outlining a potential terrorist concept of operations, this paper recommends steps by which the United States can make this smuggling undertaking more risky. American authorities should track acquisition of platforms or support equipment, receipt of training, and conduct of SSM operations. If the United States receives a report that terrorists are attempting to smuggle a nuclear device in an SSM, this information may help analysts assess what type of SSM terrorists may be using, how proficient their crew is, and what route the craft may be taking. Such assessments, in turn, may help the Navy and Coast Guard narrow their search area, recognize their target SSM, and customize their interdiction strategy. If authorities do nothing to make SSM smuggling more difficult, terrorists will have a free pass to bring their weapon to U.S. soil.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Nuclear Smuggling in a Terrorist Midget Submarine: Impeding the Operation"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Robert Joseph"],"dc:creator":["Inglis, Melanie Sarah"],"dc:description.abstract":["Who expected terrorists to fly airplanes into buildings? Seeking to get ahead of terrorists' scheming, this thesis examines when and how terrorists, on acquiring a nuclear device, might choose to deliver it against the United States in a midget submarine (or SSM, as the U.S. Navy designates it). If determined nuclear smugglers think the United States will uncover their plan and try to stop them, they will likely look for a delivery vehicle to elude interdiction. Terrorists may believe that, given the large area the Coast Guard patrols, an SSM has a good chance of avoiding sensors and thereby interdiction. Likewise, terrorists may imagine that, even if an SSM is picked up by sensors, sensor operators will be unable to distinguish the tiny submarine from similar-looking contacts. After outlining a potential terrorist concept of operations, this paper recommends steps by which the United States can make this smuggling undertaking more risky. American authorities should track acquisition of platforms or support equipment, receipt of training, and conduct of SSM operations. If the United States receives a report that terrorists are attempting to smuggle a nuclear device in an SSM, this information may help analysts assess what type of SSM terrorists may be using, how proficient their crew is, and what route the craft may be taking. Such assessments, in turn, may help the Navy and Coast Guard narrow their search area, recognize their target SSM, and customize their interdiction strategy. If authorities do nothing to make SSM smuggling more difficult, terrorists will have a free pass to bring their weapon to U.S. soil.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1436"],"dc:rights":["© Melanie Sarah Inglis"],"dc:subject":["nuclear smuggling","midget submarine","terrorists","deterrence","interdiction","Defense and Security Studies"],"dc:title":["Nuclear Smuggling in a Terrorist Midget Submarine: Impeding the Operation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Defense and Strategic Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:16:37Z"}