United States Conducts Subcritical Nuclear Test in Nevada

The United States conducts a subcritical nuclear test in Nevada, gathering essential data for nuclear warhead safety and effectiveness without nuclear explosions. This test marks the third under President Joe Biden's administration, aligning with international non-proliferation standards.

The United States conducted a subcritical nuclear test at the Nevada National Security Site earlier this week, as confirmed by the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). This experiment, the first in the Nimble series, was carried out at the Principal Underground Laboratory for Subcritical Experimentation (PULSE) facility, in collaboration with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

This test, the third under President Joe Biden's administration, took place on Tuesday. According to the NNSA, the objective was to gather essential data to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the country's nuclear warheads without involving nuclear explosions. Subcritical tests allow scientists to study nuclear materials and warhead components under conditions that do not produce a nuclear chain reaction.

The United States has maintained a moratorium on tests involving nuclear explosions since 1992, opting instead for subcritical tests to comply with international standards. The NNSA emphasized that the latest experiment, along with all previous subcritical experiments, adheres to the zero-yield standard of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). This means no actual nuclear explosions occur, thus aligning with global non-proliferation efforts.

The most recent subcritical test before this took place in September 2021. Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, Marvin Adams, highlighted the importance of these tests, stating, "We plan to increase the frequency of these subcritical experiments so we can continue to gather important data on nuclear weapons materials, with no technical need for a return to underground nuclear explosive testing."

Subcritical tests are crucial for the NNSA as they provide valuable insights into the behavior of nuclear materials under various conditions, ensuring the reliability and safety of the US nuclear arsenal. This approach enables the US to maintain its defense capabilities while adhering to international non-proliferation norms.