NNSA Public Affairs

Media Contact(s): NNSA Public Affairs, 202-586-7371
 
NNSA Expands Nuclear Security Cooperation with Russia
U.S. builds upon past success of securing nuclear material, nuclear warheads and facilities in Russia
 
At the February 2005 Bratislava Summit, the Presidents of the United States and Russia committed to expanding and deepening cooperation on nuclear security. The United States and Russia pledged to continue cooperation on security upgrades of Russian nuclear facilities and develop a plan of work through and beyond 2008. The Presidents also agreed to focus increased attention on �security culture,� to include fostering disciplined, well-trained and responsible nuclear material custodians.

Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman and Russia�s Federal Agency of Atomic Energy (Rosatom) Director Alexander Rumyansev were charged with jointly developing this plan and will provide routine reports to the U.S. and Russian Presidents of progress achieved under these cooperative efforts.

NNSA Continues Progress on Securing Nuclear Materials and Weapons

  • NNSA has already made dramatic progress in securing sites with weapons usable material and nuclear warheads.
    • By the end of fiscal year 2006, all 39 Russian Navy warhead sites containing hundreds of warheads will be secured.
    • By the end of fiscal year 2006, within the 51 sites containing weapons-useable nuclear materials, a total of 175 buildings will have received security upgrades. Security enhancements will be completed at a total of 83 percent of these sites at the end of fiscal year 2006.

NNSA will Complete Securing These Materials by 2008

  • NNSA�s security efforts over the last ten years have focused on securing the most vulnerable sites, many of which were smaller sites. Now that these smaller sites have largely been secured, the focus has shifted to securing the remaining larger sites. Meeting the objective of securing all of the nuclear materials by 2008 is feasible, because these large sites are fewer in number but contain significant amounts of nuclear material.

Expanding Security Programs

  • NNSA began a pilot program with the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF) two years ago and is now working at 25 of the SRF sites.
  • NNSA has expanded the scope of its programs to include cooperation with Russia�s 12th Main Directorate nuclear warhead sites. These upgrades are scheduled to be complete by the end of 2008.

 
 
July 2006