Archive

cold war

Securing the Signal: Mitigation Strategies to Strengthen Crisis Communication Channels

Securing the Signal: Mitigation Strategies to Strengthen Crisis Communication Channels

As global norms are challenged and emerging technologies accelerate, crisis communication systems between nuclear-armed states face urgent new threats. This report identifies four critical scenarios and outlines a matched set of mitigation strategies designed to reinforce the reliability of crisis communications in high-stakes environments.

CATALINK, cold war, crisis communications, electromagnetic pulse, EMP, escalation, miscalculation, nuclear

May 28, 2025

To Trinity Test Site: Reconciling with the Past, Taking Action for the Future

To Trinity Test Site: Reconciling with the Past, Taking Action for the Future

No amount of reading or watching documentaries really prepares one for the real experience—a walk through history into the birthplace of the single most deadliest weapon of mass destruction. IST's Sylvia Mishra was given the rare opportunity to visit the Trinity Site.

atomic bomb, cold war, crisis communications, nuclear risk reduction

July 16, 2023

Nuclear Risk Reduction: In Search of A Common Denominator

Nuclear Risk Reduction: In Search of A Common Denominator

As global nuclear dangers rise, risk reduction efforts through effective crisis communications are more important than ever. Yet differences in constituencies, priorities, and strategic cultures of nuclear weapons states generate disagreement as to which measures genuinely reduce risk.

CATALINK, cold war, crisis communications, nuclear risk reduction

December 1, 2022

Communication Over Escalation

Communication Over Escalation

In this episode of The Fourth Leg, Philip Reiner and Peter Hayes are joined by nuclear weapons and conflict resolution expert, Steven E. Miller, to discuss the historical significance and evolution of nuclear communications.

cold war, crisis communications, deescalation, hotlines, nuclear communications

October 27, 2020

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 System Can’t Be Perfect

The System Can’t Be Perfect

In this podcast, Philip Reiner and Peter Hayes sit down with Dr. John Harvey, who asserts that the US NC3 system "must seek vastly improved senior leader conferencing capabilities to support decisions that go beyond what some of us call the Cold War’s “multiple choice test”—that is, which major attack option to execute."

cold war, conferencing, crisis communications, NC3, nuclear communication

May 24, 2019

NC3 Systems and Strategic Stability: A Global Overview

NC3 Systems and Strategic Stability: A Global Overview

In a conventional conflict between the United States and China or Russia, each belligerent might attack the other's command, control, communication, and intelligence (C3I) capabilities to gain a war-fighting advantage. However, because a number of...

cold war, command, communication, control, emerging technologies, NC3, NPT, nuclear, PALS, permissive action link, stability, strategic

May 6, 2019

NC3 in a Multipolar Nuclear World: Big Structures and Large Processes

NC3 in a Multipolar Nuclear World: Big Structures and Large Processes

In this essay, Paul Bracken analyzes the big structures and large processes of nuclear multipolarity. A framework for analyzing this global system is developed, one made up of national command and control plus the "system dynamics" of their interlinked behavior. The paper underscores how advanced technologies — cyberwar, drones, and anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) — affects NC3.

anti-satellite, cold war, command, communication, control, cyberwar, drones, Europe, missile defense, NATO, NC3, Non-Proliferation, nuclear, stability, strategic, Strategy, weapon

May 14, 2019

U.S. Nuclear Command and Control for the 21st Century

U.S. Nuclear Command and Control for the 21st Century

Dr. John Harvey calls for fixing the legacy NC2 system, including the so-called “thin line” architecture, to address Cold War-era nuclear scenarios which have not yet gone away, developing an NC2 concept and associated architecture to address “modern” nuclear conflict, and generating a plan to field it over the next 10-15 years.

21st century, alert posture, cold war, command, communication, conflict, control, deterrence, NC2, NC3, nuclear, resilience, stability, strategic, Strategy, sustainment

May 23, 2019

Turkey and Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications

Turkey and Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications

Can Kasapoğlu argues that in contrast to the other four NATO nuclear delivery states, Turkey no longer appears to have an active nuclear weapons delivery mission using bombers and its NC3 system is likely dormant. "Yet," he concludes, "in a hypothetical TNW scenario, the Turkish Air Force would manage the Incirlik base and air traffic for the US air wing, and would probably provide the strike package with fighter escort. In fact, the strong separation between active combat (the US) and support roles (Turkey) could be a complicating factor for the NC3 in real warfighting...

air base, Ankara, C4ISR, cold war, Middle East, missile, NATO, NC3, nuclear, nuclear delivery state, squadron, stability, Turkey, United States

June 27, 2019

The Non-State Dimensions of Nuclear Command, Control, Communications

The Non-State Dimensions of Nuclear Command, Control, Communications

Dr. Gary Ackerman introduces how violent non-state actors (VSNAs) may approach the command and control of nuclear weapons and suggests that understanding the complexity presented by VNSA NC3 entails considering traditional concepts of state NC3 and dynamics that are unique to non-state actors driven by a variety of goals and confronting a different set of constraints from those of states.

August 29, 2019

NC3 Decision Making: Individual Versus Group Process

NC3 Decision Making: Individual Versus Group Process

Dr. Alex Wallerstein sketches a framework for thinking about how concentrated nuclear use authority should be at the top. While he discusses specific U.S. proposals for reform in response to recent domestic debates, the scope of his analysis is uniquely global and includes a comparative analysis of the approach of all nine nuclear weapons states.

civil-military, cold war, congress, Constitution, deterrence, enrichment, migration, NC3, nuclear codes, Senate, stability, status quo, STRATCOM, Strategy, UK

August 8, 2019

NC3 and Crisis Instability: Growing Dangers in the 21st Century

NC3 and Crisis Instability: Growing Dangers in the 21st Century

Daryl Press focuses on the growing threats to nuclear command and control and communication (NC3) systems around the world and the links between vulnerable NC3 and strategic instability due to the risky steps that nuclear weapons states may adopt to protect their arsenals during crises or wars.

October 17, 2019