Apparently, the U.S. government's program to replace old nuclear warheads with new, modernized warheads is problematic, according to a report by a panel of independent scientists.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science was asked to evaluate the Reliable Replacement Warhead program, which is scheduled to deliver the first "new" warhead in 2012. However, the panel found that the lack of a defined program scope, costs and schedule make it impossible to adequately judge the trade-offs between maintaining the existing stockpile as-is or developing these replacement warheads. The panel also concluded that it is not possible to accurately predict the aging behavior of the existing stockpile.
SFGate.com reports that the panel is composed of 13 scientists, including several highly regarded nuclear experts with decades of experience designing and overseeing weapons programs.
The panel said the White House needs to show some leadership on the warhead question.
"The panel also observed that the Administration has yet to clearly lay out the role of nuclear weapons in a post-Cold War, post 9/11 world "that makes the case for and defines future stockpile needs" and that argues the case for the replacement warheads. Based on past experience, they argued, there cannot be a major transformation of the sort envisioned by the RRW proposal without greater White House leadership to produce substantial bipartisan support. Since the transformation is expected to take 25 years, involving several Administrations and a dozen Congresses, a successful program will almost certainly require an approach that balances weapons program goals with those of nonproliferation and arms control.
Even some Republican members of the RRW fan club have questioned the administration's commitment to the replacement warheads, and urged administration officials to take a more proactive stance on the program during a recent congressional hearing.
--Catherine MacRae Hockmuth
Comments