[20201208]IF11697_核指挥、控制和通信（NC3）现代化.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov December 8, 2020Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) ModernizationThe U.S. military is currently recapitalizing its nuclear arsenal; one effort in this regard is the replacement of many of the systems that make up its nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) architecture. According to the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), the “NC3 system performs five crucial functions: detection, warning, and attack characterization; adaptive nuclear planning; decision-making conferencing; receiving Presidential orders; and enabling the management and direction of forces.” NC3 relies on a number of systems that enable the national command authoritythe chain of command running from the President through the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff to U.S. Strategic Commandto issue orders to strategic forces. These systems must operate at all times to transmit orders from the President and communicate with bombers in the air, ballistic submarines underwater, and intercontinental ballistic missiles dispersed throughout the United States. (For a more detailed discussion, see CRS In Focus IF10521, Defense Primer: Command and Control of Nuclear Fo