Fail-deadly

Fail-deadly is a concept in nuclear military strategy that encourages deterrence by guaranteeing an immediate, automatic, and overwhelming response to an attack, even if there is no one left to trigger such retaliation.^{[ citation needed ]} The term fail-deadly was coined as a contrast to fail-safe .

Fail-deadly can refer to specific technology components, or the controls system as a whole. The United Kingdom's fail-deadly policies delegate strike authority to submarine commanders in the event of a loss of command (using letters of last resort), ensuring that even when uncoordinated, nuclear retaliation can be carried out. ^[1]

See also

• AN/DRC-8 Emergency Rocket Communications System
• Dead man's switch  – Device that reacts to the loss of the operator
• Doomsday device  – Construct which could destroy all life on a planet or a planet itself
• Dr. Strangelove
• Failing badly  – Fails with a catastrophic result or without warning
• Launch on warning  – Nuclear strategy
• Mutual assured destruction (MAD)
• Samson Option  – Israel's deterrence strategy of massive retaliation with nuclear weapons
• Special Weapons Emergency Separation System  – List of military equipmentPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Two Generals' Problem
• Dead Hand

References

1. Scott, Len (2000). Planning Armageddon. Amsterdam: Overseas Publishers Association. p. 301. ISBN   9058230066.