The Resurgence of Nuclear Cruise Missiles: Strategic Escalation in an Era of Renewed Great Power Rivalry

Rajesh Uppal
April 21, 2026
Geopolitics, Strategy & Technological Rivalries, Autonomous, Energy & Infrastructure Systems, Global Risks & Future Threats, Thermal, Propulsion & Energy, Weapons & Munitions

Introduction: The Return of the “Usable” Nuclear Option The reintroduction of nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles marks one of the most consequential shifts in global deterrence strategy since the end of the Cold War. The United States Navy’s pursuit of the SLCM-N is not a symbolic revival of legacy capability, but a response to a…

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