Air Force Civilian Service’s Post

Dr. John Plumb, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space - "The B61-13 represents a reasonable step to manage the challenges of a highly dynamic security environment. While it provides us with additional flexibility, production of the B61-13 will not increase the overall number of weapons in our nuclear stockpile." The B61-13 will be deliverable by modern aircraft, strengthening deterrence of adversaries and assurance of allies and partners by providing the President with additional options against certain harder and large-area military targets. It would replace some of the B61-7s and have a yield similar to the B61-7, which is higher than that of the B61-12.

We must move quickly from identifying the problem, writing strategic doctrine to solving these problems. If the DOD states that the Joint Force (JF) must be able to fight and win on a nuclear battlefield then selective shielding technology must be a JF requirement. All the good work on modernizing detection technology is great, but what do you do after you have detected gamma radiation. If the JF is going to survive and operate on this most lethal environment then StemRad 360 is an absolute requirement!

Over the past three decades, the United States has resolutely refused to compete in the area of nonstrategic nuclear weapons. This refusal is evidenced by the rapid and near complete divestment of nonstrategic nuclear weapons in the 1990s and failure to reconstitute any countervailing capabilities, even after it was clear that Russia reversed course. The failure of presidential administrations to advocate for recapitalization of nonstrategic nuclear weapons and congressional resistance to authorizing or funding even minimal recapitalization activities over the past two decades only underscores the desire to avoid fielding a sufficient force of credible, theater nuclear weapons—even in the face of Russian nuclear threats. It is worth noting that it was only in light of clear Russian cheating on the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) that the United States, wisely, highlighted the extent of Russian reliance on nonstrategic nuclear weapons. While the United States rapidly and irreversibly dismantled its nonstrategic nuclear weapons arsenal via thorough implementation of the Presidential Nuclear Initiatives of 1991 and 1992, Russia, after a promising start, abandoned the effort by the end of the 1990s. Moscow’s unilateral abandonment, indeed reversal, of this informal arms control process was not unknown by the United States. Nor was it unknown that China was focusing on nonstrategic nuclear weapons development and deployment for the past decade-­­and-­­a-­­half by that time, culminating with design of both low-­­yield tactical and enhanced radiation warheads, deployment of a large variety of dual-­­capable theater missile systems, and the development of a doctrine of “dual deterrence/dual operations. https://lnkd.in/eHSiM_br

Super power(s) by every definition.

Following yesterday's announcements, we must take a strategic approach to the AUKUS partnership, working together across nations to realise the significant future benefits to both national security and prosperity. For the UK, these benefits include the wealth of local jobs and skills development that BAE Systems will bring to Barrow, boosting the local economy. As we move forward, it's important that global stakeholders embrace new ways of working, such as digitalisation, to enable efficient collaboration and the capability to respond at pace to the challenges of a rapidly changing environment. 

Take the opportunity to learn about some of the many nuclear weapons effects using the acronym BOSTERD, which stands for blast, overpressure, shock, thermal, electromagnetics, radiation, and dust. Understanding nuclear effects allows the U.S. to harden its systems against the effects, thus increasing system survivability, and therefore increase deterrence. Of course, that knowledge can also be applied by possible adversaries.

The justification documents note the new requirement to “Construct a 144-bed dormitory to house the increase in enlisted personnel as the result of the potential Surety Mission” . To justify the new construction, the documents note, “With the influx of airmen due to the arrival of the potential Surety mission and the bed down of the two F-35 squadrons there is a significant deficiency in the amount of unaccompanied housing available for E4s and below at Royal Air Force Lakenheath”. One possible explanation is that the United States is currently preparing the infrastructure at RAF Lakenheath to allow the base to potentially receive nuclear weapons in the future or in the midst of a crisis, without necessarily having already decided to permanently station them there or increase the number of weapons currently stored in Europe. The budget language of a “potential Surety mission” indicates that a formal deployment decision has not yet been made. https://lnkd.in/e7aABgjA

Up to $31M in fines and 25 years in jail for the most serious nuclear safety breaches is the headline in this article. However, the thing that caught my attention was the creation of another government bureaucracy to regulate submarine nuclear safety. Apparently, "The government argues the existing nuclear safety regime and regulators – the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency and Environment Department – are insufficient for the demands of overseeing nuclear-powered submarines. I would have thought it would be logical, more appropriate, and less costly to bolster the capacity of the existing national regulator ARPANSA rather than creating a separate and potentially different regulatory and licensing regime and creating an entirely separate system.

Yesterday was a significant milestone for the #AUKUS partnership with the selection of BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd to build Australia’s first fleet of nuclear-powered submarines and the signing of the #Defence and Security Cooperation Agreement. With the longer-term safety of our nations, and our allies, being of utmost importance, the trilateral AUKUS pact between Australia, the UK and US will be transformative for Australian defence capability and strengthen security across the Indo-Pacific. This commitment will also provide significant societal and economic benefits, through thousands of jobs and skills development in Australia and the UK and through investment in resilient supply chains. This is the start of a long journey together. Already working across the Defence and Civil #Nuclear Enterprise in UK, Turner & Townsend stand ready to help bring this endeavour to life through our business in Australia. Working collaboratively with global stakeholders, embracing new ways of working and adopting a digital first approach is at the heart of how we #transform major #programme #performance. #Makingthedifference

An Excellent Article on AUKUS by my friend and colleague, Mary Anne Zivnuska, and the protection of Navy Nuclear Propulsion Information (NNPI). Great Job discussing this very important international treaty and one of the many complex National Security challenges involving AUKUS. #navy #legal #AUKUS #nuclear