Nuclear Security & Deterrence Vol. 19 No. 2 Lockheed and Boeing Working on GBSD Guidance System
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National Laboratories
NNSA Accepts Second Whistleblower Claim From Laid-Off Los Alamos Analyst
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 James Doyle, the Los Alamos National Laboratory nonproliferation analyst who claimed he was let go by the lab after writing a paper advocating for the abolition of nuclear weapons, has had his second whistleblower claim accepted by the National Nuclear Security Administration and began mediation with the lab this week. […]
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Delivery Systems & Nuclear Triad
Hagel: LRSB Process ‘Has to Be Done’
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 During what is expected to be his last official visit to a U.S. nuclear enterprise base as Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel on Jan. 13 told B-2 airmen serving at Whiteman AFB that the Air Force cannot afford to fall behind in nuclear modernization efforts and said work on the long-range […]
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International
Russia Says it ‘Could Revise’ Commitment to New START Treaty
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 The head of the Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Foreign Ministry this week said Russia could revise its commitment to bilateral nonproliferation and disarmament, including the New START Treaty, the main agreement governing U.S.-Russian bilateral nuclear arms reductions, because of what Russia deems “unfriendly” U.S. actions, […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
At Kansas City
Full Ownership of Bannister Federal Complex Shifted to NNSA NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 The General Services Administration and the National Nuclear Security Administration signed a Memorandum of Agreement this week to shift ownership of Kansas City’s Bannister Federal Complex to the NNSA, marking an important step in the redevelopment of the site. Bannister was home to […]
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National Laboratories
At Livermore
LLNL Develops Realistic Radiological/Nuclear Training Technology NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory said this week that it has developed a technology that will help train first responders on radiological and nuclear hazards. The technology involves injecting simulated radiation signals into the analog simplifiers of real radiation detectors that are used by first responders and […]
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Budget & Policy
Wrap Up
NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 IN THE NNSA Ken Ivey has been named senior scientific and technical advisor in the National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office, which oversees operations at the Y-12 and Pantex nuclear weapons plants. Ivey, who has been serving in the position on an acting basis, will be based at Pantex. Ivey has held […]
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Defense & Military
Senators Push Former Air Force Gen. for Pentagon Nuclear Post
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 Three senior senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee last week asked President Obama to consider retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Jonathan George as the next Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs. George would replace Andrew Weber, who left the position for a slot at […]
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Delivery Systems & Nuclear Triad
LRSO to Be Included in Air Force Cost-Cutting Initiative
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James on Jan. 14 said the Long Range Stand-Off Weapon (LRSO) will be analyzed under a new set of acquisition criteria which will assess the relationship between costs and capability requirements. Officials to achieve a lower cost estimate by slightly relaxing capability requirements. The future […]
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Delivery Systems & Nuclear Triad
Northrop Wins FISAC Ground Subsystem Contract
Boeing Hints at Possible Protest After Debrief From Air Force Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 Northrop Grumman Technical Services on Wednesday won a $963.5 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, beating out Boeing to sustain the Minuteman 3 Ground Subsystem until Jan. 31, 2020, as part of the Future ICBM Sustainment and Acquisition Concept (FISAC). If Northrop Grumman […]
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Non-Proliferation
Union of Concerned Scientists Calls for NNSA to Scuttle MOX Project
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 The Union of Concerned Scientists is continuing its opposition to the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility, recommending in a report released this week that the controversial project be abandoned in favor of less expensive options. The report, “Excess Plutonium Disposition,” was authored by UCS physicist Edwin […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
CNS Taking ‘Deliberate’ Approach to Improving Ops At Y-12, Pantex
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 Y-12/Pantex contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security is taking a “deliberate” approach to improving operations at the two sites, CNS Chief Operating Officer Morgan Smith said late last week in response to reports that federal managers had been unhappy with the pace of improvements. CNS developed an “operational excellence plan” last year […]
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Defense & Military
Haney to Meet with Commanders, Stakeholders This Month to Discuss NC3
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 U.S. Strategic Command chief Adm. Cecil Haney will meet later this month with commanders and stakeholders who support the Nuclear Enterprise to discuss investment and progress of the Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) apparatus, Haney said this week. Hours later in her State of the Air Force Pentagon speech, […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
CNS Officials Pleased With First Six Months of Tenure
Staff Reports NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 The year-end performance evaluations for NNSA contractors did not include any information on the first six-month period of Consolidated Nuclear Security, but top officials at CNS have indicated they think they’re doing a pretty good job. CNS’ first evaluation will be released as part of Fiscal Year 2015 evaluations. “I […]
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Delivery Systems & Nuclear Triad
Lockheed Martin Bidding on FISAC Propulsion Subsystem Contract
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 Lockheed Martin is competing for the Propulsion Subsystem contract to be awarded as part of the Future ICBM Sustainment and Acquisition Concept (FISAC), a company spokeswoman told NS&D Monitor late last week. Slated to be the last of four subsystem contracts awarded under the new Air Force-managed FISAC contracting structure, the […]
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Delivery Systems & Nuclear Triad
ICBM Test Equipment Solicitation Draws Interest from Lockheed and Northrop Grumman
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 The Hill AFB division of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center on Tuesday released a Request for Proposals for Reentry Field Support Equipment (RFSE), which will replace 40-plus-year-old nuclear warhead test equipment consisting of the Reentry System Test Set (RSTS) and Safety Enhanced Reentry Vehicle (SERV) Field Test Set (SFTS). […]
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International
Expert Panel: US Should Remain in Compliance with INF
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 Echoing the Obama Administration’s current stance, an independent panel of national security experts on Jan. 14 reiterated its recommendation published last month in a State Department report that the U.S. should work to bring Russia back in compliance with the INF Treaty and not withdraw from the agreement in an […]
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Uranium Enrichment & Fuel Cycle
Consolidated Nuclear Security Looking for 6,800 Metric Tons of Depleted Uranium
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 Y-12 contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security is seeking a source for up to 6,800 metric tons of high purity depleted uranium metal and related material and services, the company said last week as it released a sources sought notice, though it’s unclear what the material might be for. In the Jan. […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
Y-12, Pantex Now in Compliance with DOE Benefits Regulations
Staff Reports NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 For the first time in years, Y-12 and Pantex are in compliance with Department of Energy 350.1, which governs how much federal contractors can spend on employee benefits. Consolidated Nuclear Security, which that took over management of the two nuclear weapons plants on July 1 as part of a new […]
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National Laboratories
At Oak Ridge
High Flux Isotope Reactor Back in Operation After Long Outage NS&D Monitor 1/16/2015 Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s High Flux Isotope Reactor came back into operation this week after a recent maintenance period. During the 32-day maintenance-and-refueling outage that was longer than normal because of the holidays, ORNL workers made modifications to the “deep well pump” […]