nuclear-news

New U.S buildup of nuclear-armed cruise missiles?

Air Force requests funds for new nuclear armed cruise missile.  POLITICO.com,   Laura Rozen, 11 March 2010, The U.S. Air Force “plans to spend more than $800 million to build a new nuclear-armed cruise missile for its bomber aircraft,” National Journal/Global Security Newswire’s Elaine Grossman reports, digging into the Obama administration’s FY 2011 Pentagon budget request:

The budget documents indicate a service intention to sharply ramp up research-and-development funds for the nuclear-capable weapon between fiscal 2013 and 2015, culminating in an estimated half-billion dollars to be spent on the [Long Range Stand-off Vehicle] LRSO effort in fiscal 2015 alone. For the near term, though, the Air Force is requesting $3.63 million in 2011 to complete the ongoing technical studies on the new cruise missile.

Inclusion of the funds in the White House budget request is sure to rankle lawmakers on the left flank of President Barack Obama’s political base, who have supported his commitment to taking “concrete steps” toward the eventual global elimination of nuclear weapons. Obama laid out this vision in a major speech last April in Prague, an event frequently cited as helping him win a Nobel Peace Prize.

Air Force requests funds for new nuclear armed cruise missile – Laura Rozen – POLITICO.com

March 11, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons