Will It Be Possible To Hack Connected Nuclear Weapons?

Nuclear warheads will be networked, with a greater potential for mishaps. Is that wise?

Future nuclear missiles may be siloed but, unlike their predecessors, they’ll exhibit “some level of connectivity to the rest of the warfighting system,” according to Werner J.A. Dahm, the chair of the US Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. 

That opens up new potential for nuclear mishaps that, until now, have never been a part of Pentagon planning. In 2017, the board will undertake a study to see how to meet those concerns. “Obviously the Air Force doesn’t conceptualize systems like that without ideas for how they would address those surety concerns,” said Dahm.

It’s no simple or straight-forward undertaking. The last time the United States designed an intercontinental ballistic missile was 1975. At the end of the December 2016, the Air Force Science Board announced that in 2017 they would explore safety and practical concerns of making a missile for the modern age along with other nuclear weapons that fall under the command of the Air Force.(pictured: Minuteman 3 in silo)

“We have a number of nuclear systems that are in need of recapitalisation,” said Dahm, referring to LRSO, ICBMs and the B-21 stealth bomber. In the future, he said, “these systems are going to be quite different from the ones that they may replace. In particular, they will be much more like all systems today, network connected. They’ll be cyber enabled.” That connectivity will create new concerns in terms of safety and certification that will almost certainly require changes or additions to current DoD directives.

The study comes at a critical time for the future of US Nuclear Weapons. On December 22, Donald Trump confused and alarmed the world when he tweeted that he would both strengthen and expand America’s nuclear weapons capability. But there was less new in the announcement than might actually appear. In fact, the Obama Administration was already working to fulfill the “strengthening” part of that same promise, having already put the United States on track to spend more than $1 trillion on modernisation of US nuclear weapons.

For the United States Air Force, the modernisation list includes replacing LGM-30 Minuteman with a new  intercontinental ballistic missile (also called a ground-based strategic deterrent,) developing a controversial nuclear-armed cruise missile called the long-range standoff weapon, or LRSO, to building and deploying an entirely new B-21 stealth bomber.

What are “surety concerns?”  Read that to mean how do you make sure that your fancy networked nuclear warfare control system can’t be hijacked or go off accidently.

Before the United States can modernise its nuclear weapons it must first make certain it understands everything that can possibly go wrong. 

Think back to the classic film Dr. Strangelove, a story very much about surety failure. A crazed Air Force general sends his B-52 wing to destroy their targets in the Soviet Union.

Of course, only the US President is supposed to be able to call for a nuclear strike, but it is thought that a contingency plan allows a lower level commander to issue the order in the event that the normal command and control has been disrupted.

DefenseOne:     Nuclear Facilities Have Poor Cyber Security:         US Nuclear Weapons Controlled by 8in Floppy Disks:

 

 

« CIOs Are Neglecting Process & Most Efficient Options
Driverless Future Won't Start With Self-driving Cars »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

ManageEngine

ManageEngine

As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Our Supplier Directory lists 6,000+ specialist cyber security service providers in 128 countries worldwide. IS YOUR ORGANISATION LISTED?

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

AusCERT

AusCERT

AusCERT is the premier Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Australia and a leading CERT in the Asia/Pacific region

Okta

Okta

Okta is an enterprise-grade identity management service, built from the ground up in the cloud to address the challenges of a cloud-mobile-interconnected world.

Linklaters LLP

Linklaters LLP

Linklaters is an international law firm. Practice areas include Information Management and Data Protection.

Spambrella

Spambrella

Spambrella provides email security with real-time threat protection. 100% SaaS (nothing to install)

CERT-FR

CERT-FR

CERT-FR is the French national government computer security incident response team.

Happiest Minds Technologies

Happiest Minds Technologies

Happiest Minds offers domain centric solutions in IT Services, Product Engineering, Infrastructure Management and Security.

National Information Security & Safety Authority (NISSA) - Libya

National Information Security & Safety Authority (NISSA) - Libya

NISSA is responsible for safeguarding the integrity, availability and resilienceof ICT infrastructure, resources, services and data in Libya.

National Cybersecurity Institute (NCI) - Excelsior College

National Cybersecurity Institute (NCI) - Excelsior College

NCI is Excelsior College’s research center dedicated to assisting government, industry, military and academic sectors meet the challenges in cybersecurity policy, technology and education.

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is a Virtual Private Network services provider offering secure encrypted access to the internet.

sayTEC

sayTEC

sayTEC's mission is to develop and deliver next-generation products and services in encrypted data and voice transmission.

IUCC Cyber Unit - Israel

IUCC Cyber Unit - Israel

IUCC Cyber Unit safeguards Israel’s National Research & Education Network (NREN).

Simility

Simility

Simility's multi-layered fraud detection solution uses superior machine learning & device intelligence technology to safeguard your online businesses.

redGuardian

redGuardian

redGuardian is a DDoS mitigation solution available both as a BGP-based service and as an on-premise platform.

Nubeva Technologies

Nubeva Technologies

Nubeva provide a breakthrough TLS Decrypt solution with Symmetric Key Intercept to gain the visibility needed to monitor and secure network traffic.

DartPoints

DartPoints

DartPoints helps bridge the digital divide by delivering cloud, colocation, managed services + edge infrastructure.

Datapac

Datapac

Datapac is one of Ireland’s largest and most successful ICT solutions and services providers. We have been at the forefront of technology innovation in Ireland for the past three decades.