Editing Fail-deadly

{{Short description|Concept in nuclear military strategy}}

'''Fail-deadly''' is a concept in [[Nuclear strategy|nuclear military strategy]] that encourages [[Deterrence theory|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|date=April 2025}} 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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Scott |first=Len |date=2000 |title=Planning Armageddon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lWNwZZ1tV_8C&pg=PA301 |location=Amsterdam |publisher=Overseas Publishers Association |isbn=9058230066 |page=301 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[AN/DRC-8 Emergency Rocket Communications System]]
* {{Annotated link|Dead man's switch}}
* {{Annotated link|Doomsday device}}
* ''[[Dr. Strangelove]]''
* {{Annotated link|Failing badly}}
* {{Annotated link|Launch on warning}}
* [[Mutual assured destruction]] (MAD)
* {{Annotated link|Samson Option}}
* {{Annotated link|Special Weapons Emergency Separation System}}
* [[Two Generals' Problem]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Nuclear command and control]]
[[Category:Nuclear strategy]]