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Operation Chrome Dome: Permanent Deterrence and the Risks of Continuous Airborne Alert

What capability problem does Operation Chrome Dome address for European deterrence, readiness and strategic autonomy?

Operation Chrome Dome was one of the most ambitious and controversial strategies implemented by the United States Strategic Air Command (SAC) during the Cold.

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Platform publication · DFM Analysis report · 2026-06-13

Operation Chrome Dome was one of the most ambitious and controversial strategies implemented by the United States Strategic Air Command (SAC) during the Cold War. Introduced in the early 1960s, it required a significant portion of the B-52 strategic bomber fleet, armed with thermonuclear weapons, to remain permanently in flight along predetermined routes. The primary objective was to guarantee the survivability of a retaliatory nuclear strike even in the event of a surprise attack by the Soviet Union.

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Original DFM analysis

Operation Chrome Dome: Permanent Deterrence and the Risks of Continuous Airborne Alert

Type DFM Analysis report
Published 2026-06-13 (Platform publication)
Access paid

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What is Operation Chrome Dome: Permanent Deterrence and the Risks of Continuous Airborne Alert?

Operation Chrome Dome was one of the most ambitious and controversial strategies implemented by the United States Strategic Air Command (SAC) during the Cold War.

Topics Strategic Autonomy #strategic-autonomy

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