Technical Issues in Keeping the Nuclear Stockpile Safe , Secure , and Reliable

The United States has maintained a safe, secure, and reliable nuclear stockpile for 16 years without relying on underground nuclear explosive tests. We argue that a key ingredient of this success so far has been the expertise of the scientists and engineers at the national labs with the responsibility for the nuclear arsenal and infrastructure. Furthermore for the foreseeable future this cadre will remain the critical asset in sustaining the nuclear enterprise on which the nation will rely, independent of the size of the stockpile or the details of its purpose, and to adapt to new requirements generated by new findings and changes in policies. Expert personnel are the foundation of a lasting and responsive deterrent. Thus far, the United States has maintained a safe, secure, and reliable nuclear stockpile by adhering closely to the designs of existing “legacy” weapons. It remains to be determined whether this is the best course to continue, as opposed to introducing new designs (as envisaged in the original RRW program), re-using previously designed and tested components, or maintaining an evolving combination of new, re-use, and legacy designs. We argue the need for a stewardship program that explores a broad spectrum of options, includes strong peer review in its assessment of options, and provides the necessary flexibility to adjust to different force postures depending on evolving strategic developments. U.S. decisions and actions about nuclear weapons can be expected to affect the nuclear policy choices of other nations – non-nuclear as well as nuclear – on whose cooperation we rely in efforts to reduce the global nuclear danger. This emphasizes the importance of the United States structuring its nuclear programs with the maximum transparency, making clear their unambiguous purpose and our intention to reduce reliance on nuclear weapons.