Preparing for Adversary Employment of Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons: Tactical Effects, Operational Impacts, Strategic Implications

Authors

James H. Gifford, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University

Abstract

For over 30 years after the Cold War, the U.S. largely dismissed the threat of tactical nuclear weapons on the battlefield. However, recent nuclear threats from adversaries like Russia have highlighted the need to revisit U.S. strategies. Tactical nuclear weapons differ from strategic ones by their delivery systems, not their destructive power. On the battlefield, they could cause casualties, disrupt missions, and overwhelm medical resources. Operationally, they could create logistical challenges, civilian panic, and delays in military responses. Strategically, even a limited nuclear strike could escalate quickly, requiring leaders to carefully balance deterrence, messaging, and responses to avoid all-out nuclear war. This article calls for the U.S. to rethink its approach to tactical nuclear weapons, emphasizing the need for updated policies, rehearsed responses, and a clear understanding of their tactical, operational, and strategic impacts. Preparing now, rather than reacting to a crisis, is critical to avoiding catastrophic miscalculations in future conflicts.

Recommended Citation

James H. Gifford, "Preparing for Adversary Employment of Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons: Tactical Effects, Operational Impacts, Strategic Implications," Joint Force Quarterly 116 (1st Quarter 2025), 19-23, https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/joint-force-quarterly/vol116/iss4/4.