Don’t Make a Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile a Priority

The development of a new nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N) for the U.S. submarine force is a costly and unnecessary priority given current American strategy. While proponents argue the missile enhances deterrence options and reassures allies, critics point to significant opportunity costs for the defense industry and submarine fleet. The weapon aligns with a Cold War-era strategy of threatening nuclear escalation, but it does little to advance the modern U.S. emphasis on conventional preponderance below the nuclear threshold. Therefore, resources for the SLCM-N would be better directed toward more pressing concerns like strategic nuclear modernization and bolstering conventional deterrence.