Atomic Arms Fears Grow After US Test, Russia Spurns Treaty
- Department of Energy detonated explosion at Nevada test site
- Arms control experts say steps needed to prevent escalation
Analysts fret that actions like this week’s test by the National Nuclear Security Administration could be misinterpreted and lead to further escalation.
Source: Nevada National Security SitesThis article is for subscribers only.
The US conducted a high-explosive experiment at a nuclear test site in Nevada just hours after Russia revoked a ban on atomic-weapons testing, prompting concerns of a new arms race between the world’s top nuclear powers.
The Energy Department, which oversees the US stockpile of more than 5,000 nuclear weapons, said Wednesday’s test in southern Nevada used chemicals and radioisotopes to “validate new predictive explosion models” that can help it to detect atomic blasts in other countries.