By John Erath President Donald Trump has stated that he would like to commence talks with Russia and China aimed at reducing numbers of nuclear weapons. This is an encouraging proposal; the world would undoubtedly be safer with fewer, not more, nuclear weapons. It is also much easier said than done. Arms control diplomacy is […]
How Military Tritium Production in Civilian Reactors Can Further Non-proliferation Goals
by Taylor Loy* Tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, is an essential component of most advanced nuclear weapons designs and has typically been produced in secure military facilities. Only a few grams of tritium per warhead are needed to boost nuclear weapon yields significantly. Tritium’s relatively short half-life means that it needs renewal more often […]
Op-ed: Hypersonic Overhype
Research Analyst Shawn Rostker wrote an op-ed in RealClear Defense on the lacking utility of hypersonic missiles. The United States has been exploring research and development of hypersonic weapons technologies for decades. Historically, such funding has been relatively modest, but in recent years the Department of Defense (DoD) has grown more vocal in its desire to accelerate development and […]
Lessons from South Africa: A New Strategy for Iran’s Nuclear Threat
by William Bittner* Iran is closer than ever to acquiring nuclear weapons. The risks to the international community are obvious—an arms race with the Gulf monarchies or theft by terrorists, to name just two—but so are the costs to Iran itself, which is already crippled by economic sanctions that have contributed to domestic unrest. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan […]
Fact Sheet: Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA)
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), enacted in 1990, provides financial compensation to individuals who suffered specific health conditions due to radiation exposure. This exposure resulted from atmospheric nuclear testing or employment in the nuclear weapons production industry during the Cold War. Since its inception, the program has awarded more than $2.5 billion to more than 39,000 claimants across the […]
