NEW DELHI: United States carried out a subcritical nuclear test in Nevada earlier this week, the US department of energy‘s National Nuclear Security Administration announced. The test, which was the third under US President Joe Biden‘s administration, was conducted on Tuesday to gather “essential data” about the nation’s nuclear warheads, as stated by the National Nuclear Security Administration.
The Nimble series experiment was the first to be performed at the Principal Underground Laboratory for Subcritical Experimentation (PULSE) facility, in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
According to the NNSA, a division of the US Energy Department, subcritical tests are relied upon to ensure the safety and effectiveness of nuclear warheads without conducting nuclear explosive testing.
Although the US government declared a moratorium on nuclear explosive tests in 1992, subsequent administrations have continued to perform subcritical tests.
The most recent subcritical test prior to this one was conducted in September 2021.
“This experiment and all 33 previous US subcritical experiments were consistent with the zero-yield standard of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty,” the NNSA said in a statement.
In a statement, Marvin Adams, deputy administrator for Defence Programs, said, “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.”
The Nimble series experiment was the first to be performed at the Principal Underground Laboratory for Subcritical Experimentation (PULSE) facility, in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
According to the NNSA, a division of the US Energy Department, subcritical tests are relied upon to ensure the safety and effectiveness of nuclear warheads without conducting nuclear explosive testing.
Although the US government declared a moratorium on nuclear explosive tests in 1992, subsequent administrations have continued to perform subcritical tests.
The most recent subcritical test prior to this one was conducted in September 2021.
“This experiment and all 33 previous US subcritical experiments were consistent with the zero-yield standard of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty,” the NNSA said in a statement.
In a statement, Marvin Adams, deputy administrator for Defence Programs, said, “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.”