NNSA Expands Nuclear Security Cooperation with Russia (July 22, 2005)
U.S. Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
Washington, DC
June 2005
U.S. builds upon past success of securing nuclear material, nuclear warheads and facilities in Russia
At the February 2005 Bratislava Summit, the Presidents of the United States and Russia committed to expanding and deepening cooperation on nuclear security. The United States and Russia pledged to continue cooperation on security upgrades of Russian nuclear facilities and develop a plan of work through and beyond 2008. The Presidents also agreed to focus increased attention on "security culture," to include fostering disciplined, well-trained and responsible nuclear material custodians.
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman and Russia's Federal Agency of Atomic Energy (Rosatom) Director Alexander Rumyansev were charged with jointly developing this plan and will provide routine reports to the U.S. and Russian Presidents of progress achieved under these cooperative efforts.
NNSA Continues Progress on Securing Nuclear Materials and Weapons
NNSA has already made dramatic progress in securing sites with weapons usable material and nuclear warheads.
- Security improvements at the 39 Russian Navy warhead sites containing hundreds of warheads are over 85% complete and 95% will be complete by the end of FY 2005.
- Within the 51 sites containing weapons-useable nuclear materials, a total of 114 buildings have received security upgrades. Security enhancements at these sites are over 75% complete and more than 80% will be complete by the end of FY 2005. Nearly half (46%) of all the nuclear materials within these sites have been secured.
NNSA will Complete Securing These Materials by 2008
- NNSA's security efforts over the last 10 years have focused on securing the most vulnerable sites, many of which were smaller sites. Now that these smaller sites have largely been secured, the focus has shifted to securing the remaining larger sites. Meeting the objective of securing all of the nuclear materials by 2008 is feasible because these large sites are fewer in number but contain significant amounts of nuclear material.
- Current NNSA projections indicate the potential to secure more material in FY 2005 than in FY 2004.
Expanding Security Programs
- NNSA began a pilot program with the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF) two years ago and is now working at 19 of the SRF sites.
- NNSA has expanded the scope of its programs to include cooperation with Russia's 12th Main Directorate nuclear warhead sites. Discussions to perform upgrade work at these sites are underway.
Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear energy. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without underground nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.