Luncheon Discussion on America’s Nuclear Triad

America’s nuclear triad is a compilation of platforms and weapons, the three legs of the U.S. nuclear triad serve as the backbone of America’s national security. The triad, along with assigned forces, provide 24/7 deterrence to prevent catastrophic actions from our adversaries and they stand ready, if necessary, to deliver a decisive response, anywhere, anytime. The three legs of the U.S. nuclear triad consist of a land based, sea based and air based component. The land based component consists of up to 400 Minuteman III missiles make up the most responsive leg of the nuclear triad. America’s ICBM force has remained on continuous, around-the-clock alert since 1959. The Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent program will begin the replacement of Minuteman III and modernization of the 450 ICBM launch facilities in 2029. The sea based component consists of 14 Ohio -class SSBNs that make up the most survivable leg of the nuclear triad. Their stealth design makes finding an SSBN an almost impossible task, giving pause to potential adversaries. The Columbia-class SSBN program will begin to replace the Ohio-class SSBNs starting in the early 2030s. The air based component consists of 46 nuclear-capable B-52H Stratofortress and 20 B-2A Spirit aircraft, the nation’s bomber fleet is the most flexible leg of the triad, capable of providing massive firepower in a short time anywhere on the globe, even through the most advanced defenses.

Patty-Jane Geller is the senior policy analyst for Nuclear Deterrence and Missile Defense at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for National Defense. In this role, she conducts research, writes, and engages audiences on a variety of issues related to strategic forces. She has published several white papers detailing policy recommendations that have been advocated by members of Congress and has published opinion pieces in publications such as The Hill, The Washington Times, DefenseNews, the Washington Examiner, and The Daily Signal. She has been a featured speaker at conferences and events such as the 2022 STRATCOM Deterrence Symposium, the Three Seas One Opportunity conference in Poland, and the 2012 Nuclear Deterrence Summit. Before joining Heritage in 2020, Patty-Jane worked at the Senate Armed Services Committee supporting the Strategic Forces and Cybersecurity Subcommittees. While on the Committee, she assisted in crafting the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, which established the United States Space Force. Previously, she worked in the Office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21). Patty-Jane has been a member of the Security and Strategy Seminar for U.S. competition with Russia, China, and Iran, was a 2021 PONI Nuclear Scholar, a 2022 Manfred-Worner-Seminar participant, a 2022 American-Swiss Foundation Young Leader, and has completed various other fellowship and development programs. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government at Georgetown University with a Minor in Physics and received a Master of Arts degree in Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College. Patty-Jane was born and raised in Harrison, New York, and currently lives in Washington, D.C.