The joint nuclear operations doctrine that was posted in draft form on the Joint Chiefs of Staff Web page did not change the fundamentals on use of nuclear weapons, Myers told reporters. (See DR, 9/14/05) It is “not at all true,” said Myers, that this draft doctrine, undergoing a routine updating, “somehow lowers the nuclear threshold.” And, he said, the draft was only “out for coordination at the lieutenant colonel/colonel level.” Myers added, it’s already “been modified.”
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.