Nuclear Security & Deterrence Vol. 19 No. 6 Could Funding Challenges for Ohio-Class Replacement Cause Officials to Revisit Posture Requirements?
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Defense & Military
Sec. of Defense Nominee Addresses Questions Related to Nuclear Forces
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 Defense Secretary nominee Ashton Carter this week stated the Ohio-Class Replacement will “present unique constraints” on the Navy’s shipbuilding plan, especially if the Defense Department is required to be funded at Budget Control Act of 2011 levels. Should the funding caps return, Carter said he would meet with the Navy […]
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Defense & Military
Air Force Identifies NC2 as Possible Area for Cut
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 Without budgetary relief, planned upgrades to the aging nuclear command and control (NC2) system could suffer. The Air Force’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget request includes $287 million for modernization of the NC2 architecture, about $147 million more than the FY 2015-enacted amount. With the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA) caps […]
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Delivery Systems & Nuclear Triad
With LRSO Accelerated, Air Force Pushes up RFP to Fourth Quarter of FY 2015
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 The Defense Department is looking to accelerate work on the new long-range standoff weapon, according to the Pentagon’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget request, released earlier this week. While the Air Force was expected to issue a Request for Proposals in the first quarter of FY 2017, an RFP for the […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
New Study Warns of ‘Dysfunctional Relationship’ Among DNFSB Members
Latest in a Series of Assessments Raising Culture, Morale, Concerns Within Board Mike Nartker NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 A “divisive and dysfunctional relationship” among the members of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board appears to be playing a significant role in the poor morale plaguing the DNFSB staff, according to a new independent report released late […]
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Defense & Military
Wrap Up
NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 IN CONGRESS Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) has been named the vice chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee, committee Chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) said yesterday. The committee has not operated with vice chairmen for its subcommittees in recent years, but Thornberry said an unprecedented strategic environment necessitated strengthening the […]
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Life Extension Programs
Accelerated Return of W76-0 Warheads from Navy to NNSA on Track
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 The Navy is continuing to accelerate the pace of returning W76-0 warheads to the National Nuclear Security Administration for storage and plans to be finished shipping the warheads back to the agency by FY 2016, the NNSA said this week. Fiscal Year 2016 budget documents released this week revealed work […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
DOE Investigating Partial Amputation of Finger at OST Oak Ridge Facility
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 The Department of Energy’s Office of Enforcement is investigating an accident at the Office of Secure Transportation’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Oak Ridge that led to the partial amputation of an employee’s finger. The investigation was disclosed in a letter Office of Enforcement Director Steven Simonson sent on Jan. 30, […]
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Innovation & Infrastructure
At Oak Ridge
Cracks in Concrete at HEUMF Being Monitored by Y-12 Officials NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 Cracks in the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility apparently haven’t worsened—at least not significantly—over the past year-and-a-half, but studies are still underway to determine how to address the situation at the Y-12 facility that houses the nation’s principal supply of bomb-grade uranium. […]
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International
NATO Moves Toward Relying More Heavily on Strategic Forces
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 NATO’s allied defense ministers this week formulated a “Readiness Action Plan” and released a related joint statement which indicates a growing emphasis on allied strategic forces in Europe. The decision comes at a time of continued Russian occupation of Eastern Ukraine, existing bilateral tensions over the annexation of Crimea, Russian […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
Sen. Alexander: Despite Strong Support, UPF Could Force Tough Budget Choices
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 Budgetary pressure in GOP-controlled Congress could force tough decisions on President Obama’s $12.6 billion request for the National Nuclear Security Administration, including on funding for the Uranium Processing Facility, the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee suggested this week. The Obama Administration requested $430 million for […]
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Plutonium Pit Production
NNSA Moving Forward With Pu Capabilities Project at LANL, Requests $155.6 Million in FY 2016
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 The Obama Administration is moving forward with a new strategy to maintain the plutonium capabilities at Los Alamos National Laboratory, requesting $155.6 million for the work in Fiscal Year 2016, an increase of $119.9 million from FY 2015 enacted levels. The project has emerged from the ashes of the Chemistry […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
NNSA Downplays POGO Concerns About Klotz’s 2012 Work for Bechtel
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 The National Nuclear Security Administration downplayed this week a report by the Project on Government Oversight that raised concerns about Administrator Frank Klotz’s prior work for Department of Energy contractor Bechtel, noting that Klotz followed government guidelines in disclosing his previous work and saying his decision-making has been unaffected by […]
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Delivery Systems & Nuclear Triad
White House Seeking FY16 Funds for Classified Overseas LRSB Facility
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 The Obama Administration is seeking $77.1 million in Fiscal Year 2016 for an apparent new classified Air Force facility overseas for the Long-Range Strike Bomber, according to budget documents released this week. The facility is described in the budget request only as “worldwide classified.” Like many other elements of the […]
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Non-Proliferation
DOE Plans to Continue MOX Construction Next Year Met With Praise
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/6/2015 The Obama Administration’s decision this week to continue with construction on the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Savannah River Site in Fiscal Year 2016 was met with praise from Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), who was among the lawmakers that fought against the Administration’s decision to put the project […]