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AI and Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications

Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3): A Primer on Strategic Warning, Decision Support, and Adaptive Targeting Subsystems 

Report

Originally drafted to guide substantive discussions for a scenario-driven workshop hosted by IST in Washington, DC on the risks and opportunities of AI integration in NC3, this primer provides a technical and in-depth overview and analysis of strategic warning, decision support, and adaptive targeting subsystems that comprise the NC3 “system of systems.”
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Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) systems are critical to ensure the authorized use of nuclear weapons. What exactly is NC3, and how might AI be integrated into each of its subsystems?

This primer provides a comprehensive overview of Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) systems and subsystems, focusing specifically on Strategic Warning mechanisms, Decision Support frameworks, and Adaptive Targeting capabilities. This technical document serves as a foundation designed to inform the scenario-driven exercises on AI-NC3. As the scenario explores various contingencies and decision points, developing a comprehensive understanding of these subsystems is essential.

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