If the U.S. detected one or two incoming ballistic missiles that could be nuclear-armed, the Air Force general in charge of America’s nuclear arsenal told Congress Tuesday that he would recommend the U.S. hold its fire until the missiles landed or were shot down.

Gen. John Hyten, the head of the U.S. Strategic Command, was answering a question during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee about whether a low-yield weapon launched from a U.S. submarine might spark an all-out nuclear war because an adversary would not be able to tell if it was carrying a larger warhead.

Recommended Stories

Pentagon launches major review of nuclear policy

Jim Mattis: Low-yield nukes mean US won’t have to choose between ‘surrender’ and ‘suicide’

Russia weighs heavily in America’s nuclear plans