DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 5721.1H
N3N5
24 Sep 2019
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 5721.1H
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: RELEASE OF INFORMATION ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND ON NUCLEAR
WEAPONS CAPABILITIES OF U.S. NAVY FORCES
Ref: (a) SECNAVINST 5720.44C
(b) DoD Instruction 5230.16 of 6 October 2015
(c) OPNAVINST F3100.6J
1. Purpose. To publish policy concerning the release of information about nuclear weapons and
nuclear weapon capabilities of U.S. Navy forces. This reissuance contains minor administrative
edits to improve readability and does not change existing policy.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 5721.1G.
3. Applicability. This instruction applies to all U.S. Navy personnel and U.S. Marine Corps
personnel under the Chief of Naval Operations chain of command, hereafter referred to as Navy
personnel.
4. Background
a. The Operations Coordinating Board (part of President Eisenhower's National Security
Council) established the U.S. policy in 1958 of neither confirming nor denying (“confirm/deny"
policy) the presence or absence of nuclear weapons at any general or specific location, including
aboard any U.S. military station, ship, vehicle, or aircraft. Neither confirming nor denying
serves two essential functions: 1) deterrence and 2) security of the weapons. Uncertainty as to
the location of nuclear weapons complicates an adversary's military planning and reduces his or
her chances of successful attack, thereby increasing the deterrent value of U.S. Navy forces and
the security of the weapons. The policy also denies information about nuclear weapons to
terrorists and saboteurs.
b. The United States ratified the “Agreement relating to cooperation in scientific and
logistical operations in Antarctica,” known as the Antarctica Treaty. The Treaty recognizes that
“Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not
