26 By the end of 2011, it became increasingly apparent that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) was rethinking its plans to refurbish the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, the most elaborate, ambitious and expensive Life Extension Program (LEP) for a nuclear weapon to date. In December Congress provided its final ruling for fiscal year (FY) […]
Missile Defense Intercepts in Space: A problem not solved
by Robert G. Gard The Department of Defense asked the Defense Science Board to study the feasibility of an “early intercept” of ballistic missiles, a capability planned for the fourth and final developmental stage of a missile defense program designed to protect Europe from hostile ballistic missiles. The Defense Science Board is an independent Defense […]
[Paper] UNSCR 1540 & the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit: A View From Seoul
Published by 1540 Compass Winter 2012 – Volume 1 Issue 1 : UNSCR 1540 & the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit: A View from Seoul January 2012 Duyeon Kim Deputy Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation The Republic of Korea (ROK) has been and remains a staunch supporter of the global nonproliferation […]
What is to be done? – The Russian Reset and Missile Defense Cooperation
By Kingston Reif and Ulrika Grufman Shortly after President Obama assumed office in 2009, his Administration announced a reset in relations with Russia, which had soured during the George W. Bush administration. The reset was an attempt to re-engage with Russia and to seek out opportunities for cooperation on a number of issues ranging from […]
Some Additional Thoughts on the Pentagon Strategy Review and Nuclear Weapons
by Kingston Reif On January 5 President Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey, and other high-ranking defense officials previewed the results of the recently completed strategic defense review at a press briefing at the Pentagon. Though short on specific details about which programs and systems will […]
