Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
2/27/2015
Retired Air Force Gen. Robert Kehler, the former commander of U.S. Strategic Command, last week emphatically championed sweeping investments in nuclear command, control and communications (NC3), and cautioned against segregating individual NC3 components from funding. Speaking at the annual Nuclear Deterrence Summit Feb. 20, Kehler joined a group of active leaders throughout the nuclear enterprise in endorsing an upgrade of NC3 architecture to 21st century technology, even as Pentagon officials this month identified Minuteman 3 command and control as a possible budget cut. “I would argue that we can no longer give our leaders three or four different phones that are each optimized for a certain scenario, and then ask them to switch as the scenario changes,” Kehler said. “We can no longer construct a system that is designed to get something from our leaders as opposed to getting something to them.” Kehler said during his command at STRATCOM from 2011 to 2013, he used at least four phones, three computer networks, six display screens, and split-screen TVs displaying multiple news channels.
SecDef Could Bring Positive Perspective
Kehler also touted wise NC3 investments to secure the nation through tough economies, and predicted that Defense Secretary Ash Carter—who wrote a book on nuclear command and control—would maintain a high level of attention for NC3, which he helped bring about when he was Deputy Defense Secretary from 2011 to 2013, Kehler said. “We know the new Secretary of Defense is a real expert in this field,” Kehler said. “His personal interest in NC3 while he was the deputy secretary forced a great deal of attention on this subject. I would be very surprised if this didn’t continue at some level.”
‘Cherry Picking’ Risky
Responding to a general question about NC3 funding, Kehler said a viable NC3 would be supported by budgets that incorporate all of its components. “I think there’s great risk in trying to cherry pick here,” he said. Kehler’s words come weeks after Maj. Gen. James Martin, Air Force Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget, said on Feb. 2 during a Pentagon press briefing that if Budget Control Act caps remain in place, the service could be forced to cut or reduce funding for ICBM command and control. The Air Force’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget request includes $287 million for modernization of nuclear command and control, about $147 million more than the FY 2015-enacted amount.
Kehler acknowledged the need for a “wise” NC3 funding strategy, involving leveraging government-wide investments in communications and information technology, especially in tough economies, he said. “When we’re in a bad place in the worst possible economy, our nuclear delivery systems and the supporting infrastructure need attention,” he said. “Well, command, control and communications is no different. We can’t ignore this critical component of our deterrent in this difficult budget environment, it’s important to get our priorities right.” Kehler cited the need to protect against GPS, satellite and ground-based communications jamming capabilities, echoing the words of Adm. Cecil Haney, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, at a speech earlier this month. “While we remain concerned with these growing capabilities around the globe, we must pay particular attention to China and Russia,” Haney said. “Both countries have acknowledged that they are developing or have developed counter-space capabilities. Both countries have advanced directed-energy capabilities that could be used to track or blind satellites, disrupting key operations. And both have demonstrated the ability to perform complex maneuvers in space.”
NC3 Space Innovation Will Require Government Priority
While the government cannot leverage investments into necessary high-end space technology, it should prioritize the space portion of the NC3 architecture, Kehler said. “We’re not going to be able to go leverage high-end protected space-based communications,” he said. “That’s something the government has to do for itself. And I am of a mind that says that even as the threat to space increases, we should not walk away from space….I think it would be a grave mistake. I do believe you have to acknowledge that space platforms, like platforms in other domains, will have to operate in harm’s way.”
