New Satellite Images Show Russia May Be Preparing to Test Nuclear Powered ‘Skyfall’ Missile
Zachary Cohen | CNN
New satellite images obtained by CNN show Russia may be preparing another test of its nuclear-powered cruise missile, known as “Skyfall”-- a controversial weapon that is designed to defeat US defense systems. The photos, which were captured on August 16 by the commercial satellite imaging company Capella Space, offer “strong indications Russia was preparing to test a nuclear-powered cruise missile” at a known launch site located near the Arctic Circle, experts at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies Center for Nonproliferation Studies who analyzed the photos told CNN. US officials are aware that Russia could be preparing another test of what it calls the “Burevestnik” missile as part of its advanced weapons program, according to a source briefed on the matter.
Iran Accelerates Enrichment of Uranium to Near Weapons-Grade, IAEA Says
Francois Murphy | Reuters
Iran has accelerated its enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade, the U.N. atomic watchdog said in a report on Tuesday seen by Reuters, a move raising tensions with the West as both sides seek to resume talks on reviving Tehran's nuclear deal. Iran increased the purity to which it is refining uranium to 60% from 20% in April in response to an explosion and power cut at its Natanz site that damaged output at the main underground enrichment plant there.
National Ignition Facility Experiment Puts Researchers at Threshold of Fusion Ignition
Breanna Bishop | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
On Aug. 8, 2021, an experiment at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL’s) National Ignition Facility (NIF) made a significant step toward ignition, achieving a yield of more than 1.3 megajoules (MJ). This advancement puts researchers at the threshold of fusion ignition, an important goal of the NIF, and opens access to a new experimental regime. The experiment was enabled by focusing laser light from NIF — the size of three football fields — onto a target the size of a BB that produces a hot-spot the diameter of a human hair, generating more than 10 quadrillion watts of fusion power for 100 trillionths of a second. “These extraordinary results from NIF advance the science that NNSA depends on to modernize our nuclear weapons and production as well as open new avenues of research,” said Jill Hruby, DOE under secretary for Nuclear Security and NNSA administrator.
S. Korea to Begin Mass Production of Surface-to-Air Interceptor Missile
Yonhap News Agency
South Korea will begin mass production of a newly upgraded interceptor missile, often dubbed the Korean equivalent of the U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system, after successfully completing a number of quality tests, officials said Wednesday. Cheongung II, the upgraded version of the country’s first locally-developed medium-range surface-to-air guided missile, accurately hit a missile and an aircraft target in firing tests conducted at the Anheung test site in the western city of Taean, in July and August, respectively, according to the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality.
Nuclear-Test-Ban Body Chief Seeks to Untangle Challenge of Ratification
Francois Murphy | Reuters
The new head of the body that would police a global ban on nuclear tests hopes to bring that ban into force by breaking down the main barrier - getting countries such as Iran and Pakistan to ratify it - into regional clusters, he told Reuters. Rob Floyd, a 63-year-old veteran of nuclear diplomacy and former biologist from Australia, took over this month as head of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), succeeding Lassina Zerbo of Burkina Faso after winning an election against him.
U.S. Commitment to Taiwan Under Scrutiny After Afghanistan’s Fall
Tong Zhao | Politico
The fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban may not have immediate implications for the credibility of U.S. commitment to Taiwan. But the Afghan National Army’s rapid collapse and the American military’s hasty withdrawal highlight an important fact for decision makers in Washington, Taipei and Beijing: The U.S.’ future commitment to defending Taiwan is inherently interconnected with Taiwan’s own commitment to defending itself.