The following is the Feb. 1, 2023, Congressional Research Service In Focus report, Chinese Nuclear and Missile Proliferation. Read More
Tag Archives: nuclear
Document: Report to Congress on U.S. Nuclear Cooperation with Other Countries: A Primer
The following is the Congressional Research Service report, U.S. Nuclear Cooperation with Other Countries: A Primer. Read More
Document: Iran-North Korea-Syria Ballistic Missile and Nuclear Cooperation
The following is the Feb. 26, 2016 Congressional Research Service report: Iran-North Korea-Syria Ballistic Missile and Nuclear Cooperation. Read More
Panel: Russian Nuclear Saber Rattling Prompting NATO to Rethink Its Role
Russia’s blurring of the line between using tactical and strategic nuclear weapons in a crisis coupled with its saber-rattling statements is compelling the United States and its NATO allies to rethink their positions on deterrence, modernization and conventional forces, four national security experts told a key Senate panel. Read More
Iran Slowing Cooperation With Nuclear Monitors
An undated photo of the reactor building of Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. Iranian Students News Agency photo
Iran has slowed its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency since this summer and is not providing assurance that all its nuclear material is being used for peaceful purposes. Read More
Navy Leaders: Dept. of Energy Budget Cuts Threaten Navy’s Nuclear Fleet
Chief of Naval Operations Navy Adm. Jonathan Greenert and Navy Adm. John Richardson, director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. DoD Photo
The Navy’s top leaders claim ongoing the Department of Energy’s budget cuts are putting, “the nation’s security at risk,” in a Monday letter to Congress. Read More
Document: Navy Warning to Congress Over Nuclear Funding Cuts
The following is a July 7, 2014 letter from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert and head of Naval Reactors Adm. John Richardson to Congress protesting $162 million in funding cuts to the Navy’s reactor program from the Fiscal Year 2015 National Nuclear Security Administration budget. Read More
The Incredible Shrinking SSBN(X)
Proceedings, June 2012
There is vigorous debate concerning the affordability of replacing the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs), which are set to begin retiring in 15 years. Originally projected to cost $7.7 billion per unit, concern is growing that the “SSBN(X)” future follow-on submarine would crowd out funding necessary to modernize the rest of the Fleet.
Iran: Atomic and Underwater?
Reports in early June indicated that the Islamic Republic of Iran is in the early stages of developing nuclear-powered attack submarines, or SSNs. The initial response from many observers, myself included, was to concentrate on the mechanics. Iran has no tradition of building submarines, apart from a few mini-subs and, apparently, plans for a 1,000-ton “semi-heavy” boat. Iran’s navy thus has no working Nautilus onto which to retrofit a nuclear plant. There are no shortcuts.
Iranian Kilo-class Nahang-class diesel submarine
Furthermore, the Islamic Republic has no tradition of naval nuclear propulsion. Combine the naval-architecture challenge with the nuclear challenge, and Tehran’s entry into the SSN club confronts steep engineering and financial barriers. Considering these barriers and the time it will take to surmount them, it appears whimsical for Iranian officials to assign much priority to an SSN program.
On the other hand, it wasn’t long ago that it appeared far-fetched to think China would invest lavishly in refitting an unfinished, 20-year-old hulk of an aircraft carrier it had purchased for scrap. And yet it did. Today the ex-Varyag plies the sea as a training platform for the People’s Liberation Army Navy. We kid ourselves if we project our own assumptions and cost-benefit calculations onto foreign nations with very different histories, customs and worldviews.
