Soviet Nuclear Weapons: U.S. Efforts to Help Former Soviet Republics Secure and Destroy Weapons
Abstract
To date, DOD has announced plans to obligate over $303 million in support of projects aimed primarily at improving the safety and security of former Soviet nuclear weapons and materials and at preventing proliferation. While the United States will not have a direct role in dismantling Soviet nuclear weapons (e.g., nuclear warheads and bombs), it is seeking to help former Soviet republics destroy delivery vehicles. In a related effort, the United States and Russia have agreed to cooperate in converting HEU from former Soviet weapons into reactor fuel for possible sale to the United States. The sale would not require the use of DOD funds. Despite these positive steps, significant gaps remain in our nation's understanding of how to best deal with the former Soviet Union's legacy of nuclear weapons and delivery vehicles. U.S. consideration of Russia's request for help in building a fissile material storage facility has been hampered by persistent questions. The United States has deferred selecting an approach for the long-term disposition of Russian plutonium until more can be learned about various technologies. Moreover, it is still too early to determine precisely how the United States would integrate converted Russian HEU into U.S. reactor fuel enrichment operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 09, 1993
- Accession Number
- AD1179835
Entities
People
- Joseph E. Kelley
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office