Topics in this issue include chemical spill response training, Chinese nuclear forces, and an app store for first responders.
In This Article
Emergency Personnel Evaluate Resources, Response in Chemical Spill Training Scenario
The scene was a drill — a test of the county’s resources and response, but in an emergency scenario with unknown chemicals involved, the value of drone technology becomes apparent. The scene was a drill — a test of the county’s resources and response, but in an emergency scenario with unknown chemicals involved, the value of drone technology becomes apparent. Emergency Management >>
Radioactive Threat Vision via Quantitative Gamma-Ray Imaging
Historically, radioactive material detection and localization have been accomplished through the semi-random movement of a detector in the presumed vicinity of the radioactive materials. New compact high-resolution gamma-ray imagers provide the sensitivity and specificity to comprehensively assess the complete radiological situation from safe standoff distances before near-field intrusion. CBRNe Portal >>
In Hiroshima, Obama to Talk About Consequences of Nuclear War: Aide
U.S. President Barack Obama may use his Hiroshima visit to urge world leaders to consider the consequences of using nuclear weapons, a close aide said Tuesday. Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said the president will not revisit President Harry Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb in August 1945. The Japan Times >>
What If the United States Had Told the Soviet Union About the Bomb?
In 1945, U.S. nuclear scientists urged the government to talk to the Soviets about the bomb–of course, they didn’t know the Soviets knew. There has been extensive debate both among scholars and in the public arena about the justification for the use of nuclear weapons against Japan. This debate mirrors debates that were had within governmental and scientific circles in the months before U.S. President Harry S. Truman made the ultimate decision to drop the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. The Diplomat >>
Bombs Over Bridges?
While we build up our nuclear arsenal, our country’s infrastructure is falling apart. Really big numbers, even round ones, are hard to get your mind around. Take the trillion dollars the Obama administration has declared we need to spend over the next 30 years to replace our entire arsenal of nuclear weapons – and all the planes, submarines and missiles to deliver them. US News >>
Pakistan Reacts Strongly to Latest Indian Missile Tests
Pakistan reacted with “serious concerns” to archrival India’s recent test-firing of an anti-ballistic missile system and nuclear-armed submarine-based missiles in the Indian Ocean. These developments “are now leading to nuclearization of Indian Ocean” and Pakistan will take “all necessary measures” to defend its borders, foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz told the national parliament on Thursday. VOA News >>
Pentagon Testing Small Robot to Help Hunt Naval Mines
Most of the machines developed to help navies hunt the stealthy underwater predators called mines require a big crew and a ship or helicopter, which is why the U.S. military is excited about a two-person underwater robot that weighs less than 200 pounds. NextGov >>
India’s Nuclear Options and Escalation Dominance
Since the early 2000s, Indian strategists have wrestled with the challenge of motivating Pakistan to demobilize anti-India terrorist groups while managing the potential for conflict escalation during a crisis. The growing prominence of nuclear weapons in Pakistan’s national security strategy casts a shadow of nuclear use over any potential military strategy India might consider to strike this balance. Carnegie >>
Pentagon Report on Chinese Nuclear Forces
The future development of China’s ICBM force has been the subject of much speculation and projections over the years. Despite important new developments, this year’s report describes the size of the ICBM force as consistent with the force level reported over the past five years: around 60 launchers. Fielding of the DF-31 appears to have stalled and the data suggests that fielding of the DF-31A has been modest: so far about 20-30 launchers, enough for perhaps 4-5 brigades. Federation of American Scientists >>
Former Sec. of Defense Bob Gates: I Don’t Trust Donald Trump with Nukes
Robert Gates, the U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011, said Thursday that he would not be comfortable if Donald Trump had control over the launch codes for nuclear weapons. Gates sounded off on the presumptive Republican presidential candidate during a wide-ranging interview with Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric in New York. Yahoo >>
India’s Nuclear Options and Escalation Dominance
Since the early 2000s, Indian strategists have wrestled with the challenge of motivating Pakistan to demobilize anti-India terrorist groups while managing the potential for conflict escalation during a crisis. The growing prominence of nuclear weapons in Pakistan’s national security strategy casts a shadow of nuclear use over any potential military strategy India might consider to strike this balance. Carnegie >>
India Could Have Developed Nuclear Weapons as Early as 1964 Says US intelligence
A declassified State Department report has noted that India was in a position to develop nuclear weapons as early as 1964. The report was among a number of others published on 18 May by the National Security Archive and the Nuclear Proliferation International History Project. International Business Times >>
Q&A: Building FirstNet’s ‘App Store’ For First Responders
The team working to build a public safety broadband network is approaching a major deadline at the end of the month, when proposals from parties interested in building that work are due. As the public-private partnership known as FirstNet prepares to evaluate those proposals, Nextgov spoke with president TJ Kennedy about what’s coming up over the next year. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. NextGov >>