The NIDS View

What happens when a critical military capability depends on a commercial company that controls the switch? Hosts Jim and Curtis discuss what Ukraine’s experience with Starlink and Starshield reveals about the growing role of commercial technology in modern warfare. Using SpaceX and battlefield communications as a case study, Jim and Curtis explore the opportunities and risks that emerge when comme...

How must strategic deterrence evolve to remain credible in an increasingly complex and contested world? In this episode, retired U.S. Air Force General Stephen “Seve” Wilson explores the evolution of strategic deterrence, the modernization of America’s nuclear enterprise, and the leadership decisions shaping the future of U.S. airpower. Drawing on decades of senior military experience, Gen. Wilson...

In this episode of Deterrence Matters, Jim and Curtis examine several developments shaping today’s deterrence and national security environment. From the growing threat that inexpensive drones pose to military aircraft and infrastructure to political uncertainty in France and Russia’s continuing nuclear modernization, they explore what these developments could mean for strategic stability and defe...

In this episode of Deterrence Matters , host Jim Petrosky sits down with NIDS Senior Fellow Kirk Fansher to examine one of national security’s most enduring debates: the tension between nuclear deterrence and disarmament. Using the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists article, “The Nuclear Paradox: Why the World Wants Both Deterrence and Disarmament,” as a starting point, Jim and Kirk challenge assum...

Russia’s nuclear threats are back in the spotlight—but are they a strategic bluff or a signal designed to shape NATO’s next move? Jim and Curtis unpack the Kremlin’s rhetoric around Kaliningrad, the Baltic Sea, and Lithuania’s shift in policy on nuclear-capable NATO access, exploring why this small enclave has become a volatile pressure point in European security. The hosts examine Kaliningrad’s s...

Russia is pouring steel, concrete, and cable into a buried command complex in the Urals - and the move may reveal exactly how deterrence is changing in real time. Jim and Curtis unpack the reported expansion of Facility 1335, the so-called Perimeter or "dead hand" system, and what it means for second-strike credibility, first-strike fears, and the future of nuclear command and control. The convers...

Nuclear testing, Russian strategic messaging, North Korea, China, and the race for technological advantage are all shaping an increasingly complex security environment. Jim and Curtis unpack what these developments mean for deterrence, national security, and future U.S. strategy. From the growing strategic importance of Russia-North Korea ties to the role of science, technology, and workforce deve...

Chris Stone joins The NIDS View to unpack the U.S. announcement on space control weapons and what it portends for the future of national security. From lasers and high-powered microwaves to orbital threats and competing Chinese and Russian capabilities, the conversation examines what it takes to protect vital space assets in an increasingly contested environment. The discussion also addresses fund...

Nuclear deterrence is not failing in Ukraine and Iran - it is being misread. Retired Colonel Kirk Fansher breaks down why some of the loudest anti-nuclear arguments confuse deterrence with total war, and why that distinction changes everything. The conversation starts with a provocative opinion piece claiming the wars in Ukraine and Iran expose the "flaws" in nuclear deterrence. Curtis and Kirk pu...

In this News in Review episode for July, Curtis and Jim examine a series of significant developments shaping the global security environment, from Russia's latest ICBM test launch to evolving geopolitical alliances in the Middle East and the growing strategic importance of energy infrastructure. The discussion explores how Russia and the United States continue to signal nuclear capabilities in an...

In this episode of The NIDS View, Curtis and special guest Col (Ret) Kirk Fansher discuss key insights from summer's two biggest deterrence symposiums and explore the challenges shaping today's strategic environment. From the complexities of submarine manufacturing and the limitations of the defense industrial base to the evolving role of nuclear deterrence, they examine the issues influencing U.S...

What can today's NATO leaders learn from the Cold War? In this episode of The NIDS View, Curtis and Jim compare the enduring issues of deterrence, alliance cohesion, and military credibility that helped preserve peace in 1988 and 2026. The discussion explores how the USA's attitudes toward NATO's defense posture have evolved- and not evolved--to include the issues of burden sharing, which remain a...

In this episode of The NIDS View, Curtis and Jim examine two of China's newest naval warships and what these developments reveal about Beijing's evolving military strategy and their implications for regional security and strategic stability. From next-generation destroyers and amphibious assault ships to China's pursuit of a true blue-water navy, they explore how naval modernization shapes percept...

Curtis and Jim examine the evolving landscape of allied extended deterrence, credibility, and the U.S. nuclear umbrella. As geopolitical competition intensifies and allies reassess their security gaps, they explore what it takes to preserve regional peace in a world where strategic trust can be as fragile as nuclear stability itself. For decades, U.S. extended deterrence has underpinned the securi...

In this episode of The NIDS View, Curtis and Jim review their favorite news developments for July 2026, shaping the global deterrence landscape—from China’s latest submarine-launched ballistic missile test to growing concerns over Russian military capacity, North Korean support, and U.S. defense modernization priorities. The discussion explores what China’s JL-2 missile test reveals about Beijing’...

In this episode of The NIDS View, Curtis and Jim examine Europe's growing drive to strengthen its own deterrent capabilities amid Russia's war in Ukraine and a future NATO 3.0. They explore whether Europe is moving toward greater strategic autonomy while remaining anchored within the NATO alliance. The discussion highlights Europe's emerging missile renaissance, including the development of new lo...

In this episode of The NIDS View, NIDS welcomes Curtis McGiffin and Dr. Adam Lowther, co-authors of Learning to Love the Bomb: Understanding the American Nuclear Arsenal, for a wide-ranging discussion on the history, science, strategy, and people behind the U.S. nuclear enterprise. Drawing on the expertise of leading deterrence professionals, they explain why a deeper understanding of America's nu...

Jim and Curtis sit down with aerospace engineer Ken Katz to explore the remarkable evolution of the B-1 bomber and what it teaches us about deterrence, innovation, and adaptability. From the Cold War origins of the B-1 program to its transformation into a highly effective conventional strike platform, Katz examines the technological, political, and strategic forces that shaped one of America's mos...

In this episode of The NIDS View, Jim and Curtis analyze the June 2026 deterrence and security developments, including Sen. Deb Fischer's call for greater nuclear investment, Finland's move to repeal its nuclear ban, and B-21 shelters. They explore how allies and adversaries are adapting and emphasize the importance of national resolve, civic education, and history in credible deterrence. The disc...

In this episode of The NIDS View, we examine the strategic implications of emerging hypersonic weapons, focusing on the U.S. Army’s Dark Eagle missile. Joined by missile and space warfare expert Chris Stone, the conversation explores how hypersonic capabilities are reshaping deterrence, escalation dynamics, and the future of conflict. From the engineering challenges behind these systems to their p...

In this episode, Jim and Curtis examine the strategic role of the U.S. bomber fleet, focusing on the B‑21 Raider and other ongoing bomber modernization. They discuss how bombers support nuclear deterrence, enable flexible strategic signaling, and remain a critical part of the nuclear triad’s future thanks to their successful conventional use over the skies of Iran. https://thinkdeterrence.com/ Lik...

In this episode of The NIDS View, Jim sits down with Bill Murphy, Senior Fellow and Cofounder at NIDS, to examine Europe’s evolving approach to nuclear deterrence in an increasingly complex and multipolar threat environment. As Russia’s nuclear posture grows more assertive and China’s influence expands, the conversation explores how European leaders are reassessing their reliance on U.S. extended...

In this episode of The NIDS View, Jim returns to join Curtis as they explore China’s ongoing nuclear buildup, including newly identified octagonal facilities and 80 launch pads near the Hami missile fields. The conversation explores what these developments reveal about Beijing’s strategic intentions, including the concept of dynamic parity and the role of ambiguity in deterrence. The hosts unpack...

Curtis and Kirk Fansher provide a May 2026 deterrence news roundup on developments shaping strategic stability. They discuss Russia's nuclear exercises in Belarus, its successful SARMAT ICBM test, and its third ORESHNIK missile attack on Kyiv. They also explore NATO's evolving deterrence and how countries use drills, modernization, and dual-use attacks to send signals and manage escalation. Articl...

What does the future of NATO look like in an era of evolving threats and shifting alliances? In this episode, NIDS Senior Fellow, Kirk Fansher joins Curtis to review and assess Hans Petter Midttun's proposed CALM (Coalition of Like Minds) concept to bolster Euro-deterrence and NATO credibility. Arguing that "NATO no longer guarantees Europe's security," CALM seeks to bring the more "enthusiastic"...