US Department of Defense
2009 NPR Terms of Reference Fact Sheet
June 02
2009
The 2009 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) will establish U.S. nuclear deterrence policy, strategy, and force
posture for the next 5 to 10 years and will provide a basis for the negotiation of a follow-on agreement to the
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. The Nuclear Posture Review will also satisfy the requirements of the National
Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2008, Sec. 1070 (Public Law 110-181). DoD is preparing now to
conduct this review, which will be submitted to Congress in December 2009.
¾ The NPR will assess:
x The role of nuclear forces in United States military strategy, planning, and programming
x The policy requirements and objectives for the United States to maintain a safe, reliable, and
credible nuclear deterrence posture
x The relationship among United States nuclear deterrence policy, targeting strategy, and arms
control objectives
x The role that missile defense capabilities and conventional strike forces play in determining the
role and size of nuclear forces
x The levels and composition of the nuclear delivery systems that will be required for implementing
the United States national and military strategy, including any plans for replacing or modifying
existing systems
x The nuclear weapons complex that will be required for implementing the United States national
and military strategy, including any plans to modernize or modify the complex
x The active and inactive nuclear weapons stockpile that will be required for implementing the
United States national and military strategy, including any plans for replacing or modifying
warheads
¾ The NPR process embraces a “whole of government” approach. As such, DoD will consult
with other U.S. Government departments and agencies and appropriate Congressional
committees.
x The NPR will be led by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Joint Staff, in direct
consultation with the Secretary of Energy and Secretary of State. OSD and Joint Staff leadership
will work closely with representatives from the Military Departments and Combatant Commands
and across OSD components.
x The NPR will be conducted concurrently with the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), the
Ballistic Missile Defense Review (BMD), the Space Policy Review, various other interagency
reviews, the START-follow on negotiations, and the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty 2010
Review Conference preparations.
x Primary DoD responsibility will reside with the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and Vice
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.
x The Assistant Secretary of Defense, Global Strategic Affairs will provide overall supervision of
day-to-day operations, reporting to the Under Secretary and Principal Deputy Under Secretary
for Policy.
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