Committee hears calls to accelerate nuclear modernization; leaders discuss Sentinel, SLCM, B-21 targets and pit production

Senior commanders told the House Armed Services Committee Strategic Forces Subcommittee that sustaining and modernizing the U.S. nuclear deterrent remains the department's top strategic priority and outlined several near-term modernization points lawmakers should consider.

General Anthony Cotton, commander of U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), told the panel in his opening remarks that "America's nuclear forces, the bedrock of our national security, is and continues to be safe, secure, effective, and credible," and said modernization across the triad and nuclear command, control and communications must accelerate.

Members pressed commanders on specific programs. Chairman Des Jarlais noted that the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act required the Department of Defense to establish a program of record for a nuclear sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM). General Cotton described that capability as both a strategic capability and regionally relevant, saying that "there is an opportunity for regional capability" and that geographic combatant commanders support the ability to hold targets at regional levels.

On bomber force structure, Representative Bacon asked General Cotton about preferred B-21 fielding numbers; Cotton said the program of record is a minimum of 100 aircraft but stated a preference "about 145" to reach an overall fleet of roughly 220 modernized bombers once legacy aircraft are phased.

Lawmakers and commanders also discussed the Columbia-class submarine program. In a back-and-forth with members, witnesses said the Columbia program is delayed; General Cotton said the service reported about a 16-month delay on the Columbia class and described a fleet-management trade space (PIRA/SLEP options) to cover gaps until replacements are available.

Plutonium pit production and resilience also arose. Representative Joe Wilson asked about a two-site strategy; General Cotton called Savannah River a "cornerstone" of pit production and said having two sites "betters the opportunity for us to get to the numbers that we need" and provides resilience if production at one site is disrupted.

Members asked about legacy airborne nuclear command-and-control missions (the Looking Glass/NC3 airborne element). General Cotton said an NC3 roadmap and an active trade-space study would report in the June time frame; among options is whether to retain an airborne leg and which service should host it.

On timely fielding of prompt-strike and survivable delivery options, members pressed that delays are unaffordable: "Absolutely not" was General Cotton's response when asked whether the conventionally armed prompt strike deployment could afford delays. The committee repeatedly linked modernization choices to preserving decision time for national leadership and strategic stability.

No formal decisions or votes were taken at the hearing; witnesses and members agreed on the need for sustained funding and congressional attention to acquisitions, test schedules and industrial-base resiliency as modernization programs progress.