China's nuclear deterrent force is relatively small but has become progressively more sophisticated.

But the Pentagon, he added, would still like to put the "deterrent force" in place within the next 6 to 18 months.

In fact we will maintain a substantial deterrent force on the ground, in the air and at sea.

"We didn't go to war then because we were strong and moved in a deterrent force," he later concluded.

It grew to be a large deterrent force consisting almost entirely of Syrian troops.

One of those has been to serve as part of a deterrent force against the Soviet threat.

Now the threat is back, but we have neither defensive nor deterrent forces in place.

In 1986 China possessed a credible deterrent force with land, sea and air elements.

We should take the example of France, which has a minimal nuclear deterrent force.

They will thus modify the size and adapt the tasks of their nuclear deterrent forces.