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

References

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