The United States is considering creating a “Dead Hand” system to deter nuclear aggression by Russia or China.
The US is discussing the need to create a “Dead Hand” system that could automatically launch a nuclear strike in response to an attack by Russia or China.
A “dead hand” is a complex capable of automatically launching a nuclear strike even if all decision-makers are dead or incapacitated.
Why the US needs the “Dead Hand”
The threat from Russia and China: Russia and China are modernizing their nuclear arsenals, and the United States may be lagging behind in this race.
Limited time to make a decision: in the event of a nuclear attack, the US president will have only 10 minutes to understand the situation and give an order.
Unreliability: The current US nuclear arsenal management system (AN/USQ-225) may be vulnerable.
How the Dead Hand can work in the United States
Artificial intelligence: the system can use AI algorithms to calculate all possible scenarios of a nuclear strike.
Speeding up decision-making: the system can help the US president give the go-ahead for a retaliatory strike more quickly.
Asymmetric response: A “dead hand” could help the United States asymmetrically catch up with Russia and China in the nuclear sphere.
It is important to note that the authors of War on the Rocks do not propose to give AI the right to make decisions on a nuclear strike; the system should only speed up the decision-making process in a critical situation.
The creation of the Dead Hand in the United States is a complex issue that has both supporters and opponents. Supporters believe that the system could make the United States more secure against nuclear attack. Their opponents fear an accidental nuclear strike in the event of a malfunction.
The discussion about the feasibility of creating a “Dead Hand” in the United States continues.
