WASHINGTON—Today, The Heritage Foundation published a comprehensive report detailing the current state and challenges of the United States’ nuclear arsenal. The report, "A Nuclear Posture Review for the Next Administration: Building the Nuclear Arsenal of the 21st Century", models a Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) for an incoming presidential administration and serves as an executive and congressional blueprint to build a nuclear arsenal of the 21st century. The report finds that without significant changes to the current arsenal, the United States is in danger of becoming a 2nd tier nuclear power—with China and Russia surpassing the nation. 

Heritage’s Research Fellow for Nuclear Deterrence and Missile Defense, and author of the report Robert Peters stated:   

“For far too long, the United States has ignored revitalizing its nuclear arsenal. China and Russia have expanded their nuclear arsenals to achieve nuclear parity—if not advantage—over the United States by the 2030s.

“In light of the deteriorating security environment, the incoming presidential administration will not have the luxury of spending a year writing an NPR. This special report serves as an immediate guide on how to build a nuclear arsenal that serves as a strategic deterrent. 

“Inaction is not an option. A world where the United States suffers nuclear disadvantage while our adversaries enjoy nuclear advantage is a world where nuclear war is more likely. As such, the United States must embark upon a program to build and field a larger and more diverse nuclear arsenal to deter autocrats and safeguard American interests.” 

Below are some of the report’s major findings:  

• Nuclear weapons are the ultimate guarantor of American security. They serve to deter strategic attacks, assure our allies, achieve U.S. objectives should deterrence fail, and hedge against an uncertain future.  

• China is the fastest growing nuclear power on the planet, building roughly one hundred new warheads every year. 

• Most nuclear warheads in the arsenal are older than the median age of the average American.  

• By the 2030s, China will likely reach nuclear parity with the United States as current systems age out.    

• China has built hundreds of ICBM silos in its Western Desert and is radically expanding its ability to range and effectively target the American homeland. 

• The United States does not have a sustained plutonium pit manufacturing capability needed to avoid stockpile age-out, support life extension programs, and prepare for future uncertainty. 

• The United States must build a modern strategic nuclear arsenal and a larger and far more diverse non-strategic arsenal in order to safeguard American interests. 

Heritage’s Director for the Allison Center for National Security Robert Greenway added:  

“The United States has not built a nuclear weapon since 1989, while adversaries like China build them daily. That is unacceptable.

“The United States must modernize its nuclear arsenal as global threats continue to increase. A 21st century arsenal is effective deterrence and mitigates nuclear war.

“I applaud Bob for devising this Special Report. The incoming administration needs to hit the ground running on January 20, 2025.”