China, U.S. to Meet for Rare Nuclear Arms-Control Talks
Michael R. Gordon | The Wall Street Journal
The Biden administration is preparing to hold a rare discussion with China on nuclear-arms control as the U.S. seeks to head off a destabilizing three-way arms race with Beijing and Moscow. The meeting scheduled for Monday is the first such talks with Beijing since the Obama administration and will focus on ways to reduce the risk of miscalculation, U.S. officials said.
Putin Revokes Russia's Ratification of Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Reuters
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed off on a law revoking Russia's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a move he says is designed to bring Moscow into line with the United States. Russia says that it will not resume testing unless Washington does and that its de-ratification does not change its nuclear posture or the way it shares information about its nuclear activities.
Minuteman III Missile Destroyed After Failed Test Launch Near California Coast
Thomas Novelly | Military.com
The Space Force and Air Force "safely terminated" an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile over the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, after a test launch experienced an unknown issue, the military said. A test launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California went awry "due to an anomaly" early Wednesday morning, according to a press release from the service. The cause of what went wrong with the nuclear-capable missile is still being investigated.
Lockheed Martin Nets $1bn Deal for New US ICBM Re-entry Vehicle
Richard Thomas | Air Force Technology
Lockheed Martin has been awarded a near-$1bn contract to conduct engineering, manufacturing and design work to provide a “low technical risk and affordable” RV for the Mk21A programme, which will fit a new RV to the US’ Sentinel nuclear missile system. Detailed in a 30 October contract announcement by the US Department of Defense, the sole source acquisition is expected to be completed by Q4 2039, with Fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $26.6m being obligated at time of award. The US Air Force (USAF) Nuclear Weapons Center at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity.
Navy Takes Early Steps with Australian, UK Vendors on Shared Sub Work
Megan Eckstein | Defense News
The U.S. Navy is beginning to integrate its industrial base with those of Australia and the United Kingdom, despite Congress not yet passing several measures to enable the trilateral submarine-building arrangement AUKUS. AUKUS will bring about the sale of American submarines to Australia and the development of a new AUKUS-class design, but U.S. Navy Under Secretary Erik Raven recently told lawmakers the agreement goes beyond acquisition programs.
Ukrainian Drone Struck Russian Nuclear Waste Facility Risking Disaster, Moscow Says
Andrew Osborn | Reuters
A Ukrainian drone crashed into a nuclear waste storage facility at the Kursk power plant in western Russia on Thursday, damaging its walls, Russia's foreign ministry said on Saturday, calling on other governments to condemn "an act of nuclear terrorism". A ministry statement said Ukraine must have known that its actions could have caused a full-scale nuclear catastrophe that would have affected many countries…Ukrainian officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. Kyiv generally declines to confirm or deny military operations on Russian territory.