US Navy seeks industry input for development of Nuclear-Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile SLCM-N.

According to information published by the US government on November 15, 2024, the US Navy has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the development of a Nuclear-Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N). The program is designed to create a modular and survivable cruise missile system that provides a proportional response and ensures critical adversary targets remain at risk. This initiative aims to field an operational system by FY 2034, with prototype demonstrations expected within the next three years.
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The U.S. Navy advances its nuclear deterrence strategy with the development of the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N), aiming for rapid prototyping and operational deployment by FY 2034. (Picture source: Generated by AI)

The SLCM-N will be deployed aboard Virginia-class attack submarines and built around an "All Up Round" (AUR) concept. This encompasses an expendable booster, a nuclear-capable cruise missile, and a launch canister, enabling underwater launches from Virginia Payload Tubes (VPT) or Virginia Payload Modules (VPM). The Navy’s approach emphasizes leveraging mature technologies and a modular open systems design to reduce development timelines and control costs while maintaining the flexibility for future upgrades.

The United States first introduced nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles in the mid-1980s with the deployment of the TLAM-N, a nuclear variant of the Tomahawk Land-Attack Missile. These missiles were stationed on both surface ships and attack submarines, offering a range of approximately 2,500 kilometers (about 1,550 miles). In 1991, President George H.W. Bush announced the withdrawal of all sea-based tactical nuclear weapons, leading to the removal of TLAM-N missiles by mid-1992. The Navy retained the option to redeploy them on attack submarines if necessary. However, in 2010, the Obama Administration recommended retiring the TLAM-N system, deeming it redundant given other available nuclear capabilities. The retirement was completed in 2013.

The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) under the Trump Administration proposed developing a new nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile, now known as SLCM-N. This initiative aimed to provide a "non-strategic regional presence" and address the need for "flexible and low-yield options" in the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The SLCM-N was intended to strengthen deterrence against regional adversaries and reassure U.S. allies.

In its Fiscal Year 2022 budget request, the Biden Administration allocated funds for research and development of the SLCM-N. However, the 2022 NPR recommended canceling the program, suggesting that existing capabilities were sufficient to meet deterrence requirements. Despite this, Congress continued to provide funding for the SLCM-N and its warhead. The Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act mandated the executive branch to ensure the initial operational capability of the SLCM-N. Subsequently, the Administration has taken steps to implement the program.

Proponents of the SLCM-N argue that it offers a flexible and survivable nuclear option, capable of being deployed in various regions without the need for forward-basing nuclear assets on allied territories.