In its mark-up of the Defense Authorization bill for Fiscal 2013, the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee lauded the prior accomplishments of the Airborne Laser Test Bed program. It then went further by directing the Missile Defense Agency to provide a report by 31 July 2012 on the costs that would be involved in returning the Airborne Laser aircraft to an operational readiness status to continue technology development and testing, and to be ready to deploy in an operational contingency, if needed, to respond to rapidly developing threats from North Korea.
“N. Korea Launches Rocket, Kills U.S. Deal” in Arms Control Today May 2012
-“U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Glyn Davies is said to have clearly reminded his North Korean counterpart, Kim Gye Gwan, of the meaning of this provision during February talks. Sources say, however, the young Kim Jong Un, the country’s new leader, was unable to defy his late father and predecessor’s command to complete the rocket launch, which was timed to mark the Kim Il Sung centennial and proclaim North Korea to be a ‘strong and prosperous nation.'”
House Energy and Water Bill Prioritizes Nuclear Terrorism Prevention Programs, Supports CMRR Delay
On April 24 the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee released its draft Committee report of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Energy and Water bill. The full House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to take up the bill on April 25.
“CTBT or Not, Nuclear Test Detection and Monitoring Remains Critical”
Our new Senior Science Fellow Dr. Phil Coyle has a new article in the World Politics Review on U.S. nuclear test detection capabilities and why its important to sustain and improve them with our without the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
“The case for the CTBT: Stronger than ever”
In my April Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists column, I examine the recently released National Academy of Sciences report on the technical and security issues related to the CTBT.
