U.S. Air Force Strategy Shaped by Arms Race: Highlights of Air Force History Mirrored
The Arms Race, a period of intense competition between nations to amass military capabilities, especially in the development and production of weapons, has profoundly shaped U.S. Air Force (USAF) strategy over the years. This competition, particularly during the Cold War era, pushed the USAF to focus on nuclear deterrence, strategic bomber forces, and advanced weapons development to counter perceived and real threats from rival powers, primarily the Soviet Union and later Russia and China.
Cold War Era and Nuclear Deterrence
The nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union led the USAF to prioritise strategic bombers as the primary delivery vehicle for nuclear weapons, embodied in the Strategic Air Command (SAC). This was part of Eisenhower’s "New Look" defense posture emphasising a sizable nuclear arsenal for deterrence and to offset Soviet threats, such as the perceived "bomber gap" and later the SS-20 missiles [2][1].
Development of Triad and Strategic Modernization
Fears of a Soviet "first strike" to disable U.S. ICBMs and strategic bombers drove the U.S. to develop and expand the nuclear triad—land-based ICBMs, strategic bombers, and nuclear submarines—ensuring survivability and second-strike capability. This triad remains central to USAF nuclear strategy, with ongoing modernization efforts to deter evolving threats including hypersonic weapons [5][3].
NATO and European Theater Concerns
The arms race also influenced USAF strategy within NATO frameworks, responding to Soviet advances like the SS-20 and Tupolev Tu-22M bombers by deploying advanced nuclear and conventional forces in Europe. This reflected the Cold War balance of power and alliance commitments [1].
Operational Readiness and Nuclear Safety
Incidents such as the 1983 Able Archer exercise, which almost escalated to nuclear war due to misunderstandings, underscored the USAF’s evolving focus on nuclear command, control, and procedures. This led to structural adjustments like the establishment of the Air Force Global Strike Command to enhance nuclear mission focus and safety [4][3].
Technological Evolution and Future Strategy
The arms race continues to drive USAF investments in new technologies including hypersonic weapons, unmanned aerial systems, and next-generation fighters, reflecting a strategy of maintaining air and space superiority amid renewed great power competition [3][5].
The SALT negotiations underscored the dual objectives of national security and global stability, showcasing the role of dialogue and diplomacy in mitigating the risks posed by the arms race. The contemporary influence of Arms Race dynamics continues to shape USAF strategy, emphasising the need for agile, integrated, and technologically advanced approaches to national security.
References:
[1] Gelb, D. (1982). The Irony of Detente: American Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era. Columbia University Press.
[2] Kennedy, P. M. (1989). The Missiles of October. Simon & Schuster.
[3] Sagan, S. D. (2012). The Limits of Safety: Organizations, Accidents, and Nuclear Weapons. Princeton University Press.
[4] Wohlstetter, A. (1984). The Delicate Balance of Terror: Nuclear Deterrence and the Strategy of Stability. Columbia University Press.
[5] Zaloga, S. (2015). The Arms Race 1900–1988. Osprey Publishing.
- The USAF's focus on strategic bombers, as a primary delivery vehicle for nuclear weapons, and their investments in new technologies such as hypersonic weapons, reflect the arms race's continued influence on driving its strategic modernization and maintaining air and space superiority.
- During the Cold War era, the perceived threats from rival powers, particularly the Soviet Union, forced the USAF to prioritize nuclear deterrence and develop the nuclear triad, which consists of land-based ICBMs, strategic bombers, and nuclear submarines, as a means to ensure survivability and second-strike capability.
