Archive

NC3 Systems and Strategic Stability

Outlining the global effects of nuclear modernization and advanced technologies

Q&A: Separating the hype from reality

Q&A: Separating the hype from reality

Nuclear command, control, and communications systems are often called the “fourth leg” of the U.S. nuclear enterprise. In this month’s edition of the TechnologIST, IST Deputy Director of Nuclear Policy Sylvia Mishra joined us for a Q&A about IST’s recent primer on NC3 systems, drafted for a workshop focused on the integration of AI and NC3.

AI, NC3, nuclear

July 8, 2025

AI-NC3 Integration in an Adversarial Context: Strategic Stability Risks and Confidence Building Measures

AI-NC3 Integration in an Adversarial Context: Strategic Stability Risks and Confidence Building Measures

AI-NC3 Integration in an Adversarial Context aims to examine the strategic stability risks posed by integrating AI technologies into nuclear command, control and communications systems across the globe.

and communications, artificial intelligence, confidence-building measures, control, NC3, nuclear command

February 27, 2023

Forecasting the AI and Nuclear Landscape

Forecasting the AI and Nuclear Landscape

This report, the product of a partnership between IST and Metaculus, aims to assess the risks of escalation between the U.S. and China, including by the integration of AI into NC3.

AI, China, command, communications, control, Innovation and Catastrophic Risk, nuclear

September 21, 2022

Hotline Between Two Koreas: Status, Limitations and Future Tasks

Hotline Between Two Koreas: Status, Limitations and Future Tasks

In this paper, Moon Chung-in and Boo Seung-Chan provide historical context on the hotlines linking South and North Korea and point to the lessons that can be learned from the decades-long effort.

CATALINK, communication, communication link, crisis, crisis management, escalation, history, hotlines, Innovation and Catastrophic Risk, NC3, nuclear, nuclear security, nuclear weapon, nuclear weapon states, nuclear weapons, nuclear-use, secure communications

December 17, 2020

Why We Study Accidents: Complex System Accidents and Their Broader Security Implications

Why We Study Accidents: Complex System Accidents and Their Broader Security Implications

Significant risk reduction can be achieved through understanding complexity and normal accidents. An increased understanding of these accidents will afford deeper insight into the vulnerabilities and risks that exist in the more technically advanced militaries of the 21st century and will give valuable foresight into the increasingly digitized, networked, and complicated systems of the future.

complex accidents, Innovation and Catastrophic Risk, mosaic warfare

November 13, 2020

When machine learning comes to nuclear communication systems

When machine learning comes to nuclear communication systems

In an op-ed for C4ISRNET, Philip Reiner, Alexa Wehsener and M. Nina Miller underline the importance of credible NC3 systems.

CATALINK, crisis communications, machine learning, NC3, nuclear, stability

April 30, 2020

NC3, Entanglement, and the Inadvertent Risk of Nuclear War

NC3, Entanglement, and the Inadvertent Risk of Nuclear War

In this episode, Philip Reiner sits down with Dr. James Acton to understand how to evaluate the risk of inadvertent escalation arising from entanglement.

C3I, command and control, conventional conflict, dual-use, NC3, unconventional conflict

November 21, 2019

NC3 Threats: Insider Edition

NC3 Threats: Insider Edition

Philip Reiner and Peter Hayes sit down with Dr. Ronald Schouten to discuss insider threats to nuclear command, control, and communications.

insider threats, nuclear command, nuclear weapons, risk

November 14, 2019

The Real Value of Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear Command and Control

The Real Value of Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear Command and Control

In an article in War on the Rocks, Philip Reiner and Alexa Wehsener make the case for a nuanced discussion about the integration of artificial intelligence in nuclear command, control, and communication systems.

artificial intelligence, machine learning, NC3, nuclear, stability

November 4, 2019

Are All Legal Bets Off?

Are All Legal Bets Off?

William Boothby joins The Fourth Leg's Philip Reiner and Peter Hayes for a discussion on the legal limits surrounding the use of nuclear weapons.

accidental use, nuclear strike, nuclear weapons, offense, self-defense, United Nations

October 31, 2019

Starting from the Beginning

Starting from the Beginning

In this episode of The Fourth Leg, Paul Davis joins Philip Reiner and Peter Hayes to discuss how to approach NC3 modernization. Rather than looking at the myriad of structural and technical issues associated with modernizing NC3, he instead argues that modernization should go back to the basics: what core functionality should be demanded, and how should those demands should differ from those of the Cold War?

cold war, NC3, NC3 modernization, nuclear accidents, nuclear control, nuclear weapons, technical

October 24, 2019

The End of Survivability?

The End of Survivability?

In this episode of The Fourth Leg, Philip Reiner and Peter Hayes are joined by guest Daryl Press, who focuses on the growing threats to nuclear command and control and communication (NC3) systems around the world.

global stability, NC3, nuclear command, nuclear control, nuclear risk, strategic stability, vulnerabilities, vulnerable NC3

October 17, 2019

Elements of Caution and Prudence

Elements of Caution and Prudence

In this episode of The Fourth Leg, Philip Reiner and Peter Hayes sit down with Avner Cohen to explore Israel's NC3 profile.

Israel, Middle East, NC3, NC3 architecture, nuclear command, nuclear control, nuclear weapon state

October 10, 2019

An Altogether Different Set of Challenges

An Altogether Different Set of Challenges

Philip Reiner and Peter Hayes are joined by Feroz Hassan Khan for a conversation on the nuclear command, control, and communications of Pakistan.

delegation, NC3, NC3 architecture, nuclear deterrent, nuclear war, Pakistan

September 26, 2019

When and Why Cede Nuclear Authority

When and Why Cede Nuclear Authority

In this segment, Dr. Vipin Narang joins Philip Reiner and Peter Hayes to challenge the delegative/assertive binary, arguing that, while conceptually important, it has hamstrung our thinking of regional powers’ NC3 by forcing them into one bin or another when it is in fact a time-dependent spectrum: all states delegate—that is, cede the ability to use nuclear weapons, irrespective of the authority to do so—at some point.

assertive, delegative, hardware, NC3, NC3 architecture, nuclear command, nuclear control, regional powers, software

September 18, 2019

United Kingdom: Nuclear Weapon, Command, Control, and Communications

United Kingdom: Nuclear Weapon, Command, Control, and Communications

In this episode, Rear Admiral John Gower joins Philip Reiner and Peter Hayes to discuss the UK nuclear weapon command, control, and communications architecture. He goes into detail on the multiple communication paths, frequencies, fall-back systems, and encryption needed to continuously enable the UK's Prime Minister to act on a nuclear launch decision.

crisis communications, encryption, NC3, nuclear launch, nuclear weapons, systems, United Kingdom

September 12, 2019