The Air Force is planning a tabletop exercise to gauge U.S. readiness to react to a wide spectrum of nuclear-related scenarios, part of a larger effort to prepare for them, a service leader said on Wednesday. Lt. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration, discussed potential scenarios at the Air & Space Forces Association conference outside Washington, D.C. that warfighters need to understand, not just at the presidential level.
This represents a big change in the military’s approach to discussing nuclear war historically held at the highest strategic level, reflecting the times when two great powers engaged in a conventional arms race. Today’s modern role of nuclear weapons in conflict involves far more players and means of delivery beyond traditional ICBMs, with new types of missiles and weapons that can deliver nuclear effects, some of which may not appear to be weapons at first.
Weapons instructors at Nevada’s Nellis Air Force Base are already teaching lessons on radiological threats to pilots, and Lt. Gen. Gebara is working to broaden training for such scenarios across the Air Force. The results of the tabletop exercise, which is scheduled for later this month, will be briefed at a CORONA commanders conference.
