The United States recently demonstrated its nuclear readiness when it conducted a comprehensive Simulated Electronic Launch Minuteman (SELM) exercise known as Giant Pace. The operation was designed to test and enhance the coordination, resiliency and rapid-response capabilities of the nation’s nuclear command structure. Thousands of U.S. military personnel from various service branches engaged in scenarios that simulated the tumult of a potential nuclear engagement. By replicating real-world conditions, the exercise underscored the importance of a robust and assured reliable capability.
“SELM is an opportunity to put our training to the test and actually turn keys on a real sortie,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Tony McCowan, an airborne launch control system (ALCS) operator from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron. “Even though the launch is simulated, every process and procedure up to that point is executed and tested.”
Throughout the exercise, Air Force, Army and Navy units worked in concert to navigate simulated cyber intrusions, maintain redundant communication networks and operate advanced real-time decision-making systems. These exercises ensured that in the event of a coordinated enemy first strike, the U.S. still would possess the capacity to execute a timely and decisive counterattack. The simulation did more than test readiness — it also reaffirmed the need for a versatile and secure command and control system.
The foundation of the exercise is the principle of second-strike capability. This concept, a cornerstone of nuclear deterrence, guarantees that a nation can launch a devastating retaliatory attack even after absorbing a surprise enemy assault. Essentially, the capability hinges on the survivability and dispersion of nuclear forces and command, control and communication functions. An adversary must contend with the uncertainty of knowing which portions of a nation’s arsenal would survive an initial attack, thereby making any first strike a prohibitively risky gambit.
The U.S. has long invested in a diversified nuclear force, comprised of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and air-launched weapons — a configuration referred to as the nuclear triad. Each component plays an integral role in reinforcing overall deterrence. Even if one segment were to be compromised in an attack, the others would remain operational, ensuring the nation retains the ability to respond forcefully. Giant Pace demonstrates how the legs of the triad work together by testing the reliability of the communication and command networks that bind them together. This interdependency not only increases operational efficiency but also complicates an adversary’s strategic decision-making.
In a world of rapid technological changes and unpredictable global flashpoints, robust deterrence remains essential to maintaining international stability.