Nuclear-Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile

The Nuclear-Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile, or SLCM-N, is a tactical nuclear weapon system under development for the United States Navy since it was proposed in the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, described as the first new American nuclear weapon design since the end of the Cold War. Intended for launch from Virginia-class attack submarines and from surface combatants, it is being developed with contractors including Leidos, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Florida Turbine Technologies, carrying a W80 Mod 5 thermonuclear warhead, with an initial operational capability targeted for 2034. Supporters argue it strengthens deterrence and reassures allies, while critics contend it lowers the threshold for nuclear use and raises the risk of escalation with Russia or China. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/