Program and Policies Of Nuclear Weapon States

National Defense University

Assignment no 1
Submitted To:
Dr Zafar
Submitted By:
Rafia Shafique
ALERT POSTURE
Alert Posture is simply defined as a portion of some forces are on alert and ready
to launch an attack after the authenticated, encrypted order by the head of state.

While Alert state is the state or condition use to put or place the forces of state
on high alert against any possible threat and attack. Usually this term is used by
United States as “DEFCON” for its military forces. The DEFCON is mainly divided in
5 levels and grades of Alert. The DEFCON1 is considering as “More Severe” While
the DEFCON 5 is considered as the “Least Severe’’ South Korea's defined it as
"Jindogae" system and the UK ‘’Threat Levels”.

According to FAS (FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SCIENTIST) 2017 Report:

There are four counties whose nuclear warheads are on high alert and are ready
to launch when needed they included US, RUSSIA, FRANCE, and BRITIAN. There
are almost 1869 warheads are on alert in which United States and Russia put
almost 1749 warheads that makes 94% of total warheads on alert.

However in NPR 2010 and 2018 Nuclear summit, the alert postures of both states
united states and Russia are considered as stable and there is more attention
drawn toward the steps to reduce the chances of accidental and unauthorized
war and ensure the clear order of civilian and president of state. In these
summits, United States was also praised about the use of its “Open Ocean
Targeting’’ strategy to avoid the accidental and unauthorized wars.

OPEN OCEAN TARGETTING

Open Ocean targeting is the practice introduced by United States that in case of
any unauthorized and accidental and war due to misperception the ballistic
missiles and submarine launched missile (ICBM, SLBM) will be deployed in the
ocean and Arctic Ocean rather than the enemy territory. This practice is to resolve
the crises and to attain the strategic stability in the region. In the 2010 and 2018
NPR summit, United States was encouraged for this practice to reduce the
chances of any nuclear attack and to resolve the crises.