MINOTAUR I ROCKET LAUNCHES FROM VSFB

A Minotaur I rocket carrying an unarmed Mk21A reentry vehicle launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., at 11:01 p.m. June 17, 2024. After attaining full operational capability, the Mk21A RV will be integrated on the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system. The Mk21A program is currently in early development and overseen by the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Kadielle Shaw)

Nuclear Industrial Base and the Credibility of U.S. Deterrence

Published June 13, 2026
By AFNWC/AFGSC LNO for NC3

This topic would treat industrial capacity not as a background procurement issue but as a visible component of deterrence itself. A strong study could examine whether pit production, warhead sustainment, submarine construction, missile procurement, and supporting infrastructure now directly affect the credibility of U.S. commitments by signaling either strategic durability or institutional weakness to allies and adversaries alike.