- Second strike
In
nuclear strategy , second strike capability is a country's assured ability to respond to a nuclear attack with powerful nuclear retaliation against the attacker. To have such an ability (and to convince the opponent of its viability) is considered extremely vital innuclear deterrence , as otherwise the other side might be tempted to try to win a nuclear war in one massivefirst strike against the opponent's own nuclear forces.Theory
The possession of second strike capabilities counters a
first strike nuclear threat and can support ano first use nuclear strategy.Reciprocal second strike capabilities usually cause a
mutual assured destruction defence strategy, though one side may have a lower levelminimal deterrence response.An example of how second strike capability can be strengthened is the implementation of
fail-deadly mechanisms.Implementation
The crucial goal in maintaining second strike capabilities is preventing
first strike attacks from taking out a nation's nuclear arsenal, allowing for nuclear retaliation to be carried out. Thenuclear triad is a way for countries to diversify their nuclear arsenals in order to better ensure second strike capability.Submarine-launched ballistic missile s are the classic, but very expensive, method of providing a second strike capability, though it needs to be supported by a reliable method of identifying who the attacker is. Using Submarine-launched ballistic missiles as a second strike capability has a serious problem, because in retaliation for a submarine launchedICBM , the wrong country could be targeted, and can cause a conflict to escalate.History
As early as 1940, science fiction writer
Robert A. Heinlein wrote "Solution Unsatisfactory " in which he described a nuclear arms race between the US and the Soviet Union. In one episode, the US cabinet discusses the scenario of a Soviet surprise attack in which American cities would be destroyed, but the US armed forces would survive and launch a counter-attack.ee also
*
Mutual Assured Destruction
*fail-deadly
*first strike
*nuclear triad
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