PRESERVING THE VIABILITY OF NUCLEAR COMMAND, CONTROL, AND COMMUNICATIONS IN THE MODERN AGE

Emerging technology and political decisions from leading nations in great power competition today have engendered a contentious multipolar world order. Moreover, the current state of U.S. Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) infrastructure remains outdated and unprepared for disruptive adversary warfighting capabilities of the modern age. The author conducted research to identify methods for NC3 modernization that reduce incentive to degrade strategic system functionality while concomitantly improving overall defense. To accomplish this, threats to NC3 were explored in the new domains of cyberspace and outer space, followed by an analysis of recent choices in the political sphere where misunderstandings of responsible deterrence put NC3 at heightened risk. Results include actionable items to ensure effective NC3 modernization. In particular, the author identifies a digital-analog hybrid architecture that can bolster NC3 in cyberspace and a hybrid space architecture that integrates government payloads with commercial platforms to reinforce NC3 in outer space. Additionally, the author found NC3 is better defended in the political sphere if tactical nuclear weapons deployment and missile defense initiatives are rescinded, and the dual-use capability for NC3 platforms is proliferated. The Department of Defense (DoD) must pursue these objectives to adequately protect strategic systems while making limited conflicts in such areas as Ukraine or Taiwan easier to manage.

Grantor dc:publisher

Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Piasecki, Kenneth M.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Crook, Matthew R.

Statement dc:rights

• This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10945/74862

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/74862