(CUWS) Outreach Journal #1183

USAF Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies

(CUWS) Outreach Journal CUWS Outreach Journal 1183 18 September 2015

Feature Item: “The U.S.-China Military Scorecard: Forces, Geography, and the Evolving Balance of Power, 1996–2017”. Authored by Eric Heginbotham, Michael Nixon, Forrest E. Morgan, Jacob Heim, Jeff Hagen, Sheng Li, Jeffrey G. Engstrom, Martin C. Libicki, Paul DeLuca, David A. Shlapak, David R. Frelinger, Burgess Laird, Kyle Brady, and Lyle J. Morris; published by RAND Corporation; 2015; 430 pages. http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR300/RR392/RAND_RR392.pdf Over the past two decades, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has transformed itself from a large but antiquated force into a capable, modern military. In many areas, its technology and the skill levels lag behind those of the United States, but it has narrowed the gap. Moreover it enjoys the advantage of proximity in most plausible Asian conflict scenarios and has developed capabilities that capitalize on that advantage. How would Chinese and U.S. forces perform in operations against one another in such a conflict? What is the balance of power? What are the prospects for deterrence, and what can be done to strengthen them? This volume examines relative U.S. and Chinese military capabilities in ten operational areas, covering the air and missile, maritime, space and counterspace, cyber, and nuclear domains. It looks at trends across time, from 1996 to the present, as well as potential developments through 2017. And it examines the impact of distance and geography on military power by assessing capabilities in the context of two scenarios at different distances from China: one centered on Taiwan and the other on the Spratly Islands. The research should be of interest to defense analysts, Asian foreign policy and security specialists, policymakers, military officers and anyone interested in Chinese military modernization and the balance of power in Asia.

U.S. Nuclear Weapons 1. Global Strike Aim: Update Nuke Arsenal U.S. Counter-WMD 1. CSTO Leaders Say Building up of Missile Defence Systems Destabilizes Global Situation 2. Missile Defense Not Enough: Pentagon Open to Preemptive Strikes U.S. Arms Control 1. Source: Cutting-Edge Ballistic Missile to Be Fielded with Russian Missile Force in 2016 2. Source: Flight Development Tests of Russia’s Sarmat ICBM to Start in Third Quarter of 2016 Homeland Security/The Americas 1. Homeland Security Demonstrates Nuclear Forensics Capabilities 2. Analysis: RAND Says US Facing Tough Fight with China Asia/Pacific 1. Long March 3B Conducts another Secretive Launch 2. N. Korea Vows to Launch Rocket 3. N.Korea Restarts Nuclear Reactor, Warns US 4. North Korea ‘Hot Cell’ Unit Could Mean Better, Larger Nuclear Bombs: U.S. Experts 5. China Treads Peaceful Path after DPRK Announces Nuclear Move 6. Australia Defends Opposition to Global Push for Nuclear Weapons Ban

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Air Force Times – Tysons Corner, VA Global Strike Aim: Update Nuke Arsenal This is one in a series of stories featuring Air Force leaders who spoke to Air Force Times about their challenges in advance of the Air Force Association National Convention Sept. 14-16. By Phillip Swarts, Staff writer September 12, 2015 After a tumultuous 2014 that saw accusations of misconduct by missileers, new Global Strike Command leader Gen. Robin Rand says his airmen are looking ahead. “We’re moving forward,” he said. “What I’ve seen are proud, motivated airmen who understand the calling of their profession. They are the best at what they do, and I’m honored to lead them.” Rand, who previously led Air Education and Training Command, took command at Global Strike in July. He came on board after the command had faced criticism for a string of high-profile accusations of misconduct, including a Pentagon investigation that found a group of officers were cheating on proficiency exams. Indeed, Rand is the first four-star to command Global Strike since the end of the Cold War, a move widely regarded as an attempt to get the command back on its feet. Now, Rand said he’s focused on the mission ahead.

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Chief among those issues will be tackling an aging nuclear arsenal, with bombers and missiles still in service more than 20 years after the end of the Cold War. Rand said Global Strike initiatives include replacing support equipment in Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launch control centers, and looking for replacements for two support vehicle systems that carry missiles from bases to launch facilities. In October, the command will take responsibility for a group of B-1 bombers from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota as part of a Pentagon effort to consolidate nuclear operations. And Global Strike will start overseeing the 377th Air Base Wing out of Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico and its Underground Munitions Storage Complex, the world’s largest underground storage facility for nuclear weapons. On the horizon is a new bomber designed to replace the B-52 and B-1, and eventually the B-2. The “strategic deterrence” the Long Range Strike-Bomber will provide will be “vitally important for the nation’s defense,” Rand said. http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/tech/2015/09/12/global-strike-aim-update-nuke- arsenal/71888948/ Return to Top

TASS Russian News Agency – Moscow, Russia CSTO Leaders Say Building up of Missile Defence Systems Destabilizes Global Situation The CSTO leaders called to observe the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and reiterated their commitment to their good-will liabilities to hold talks on efficient measures to stop the arms race September 15, 2015 DUSHANBE, September 15. /TASS/. Actions taken by certain countries and blocs to build up missile defense systems destabilizes the situation in the world, leaders of the countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) said in a statement after their summit in Dushanbe on Tuesday. "We, heads of state of the CSTO member countries stand for preventing an arms race. We believe that unilateral and unlimited steps taken by certain states or groups of states to build up missile defense systems are harmful to international security and destabilize the situation in the world," the document says. The CSTO leaders called to observe the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and reiterated their commitment to their good-will liabilities to hold talks on efficient measures to stop the arms race in the immediate future. http://tass.ru/en/politics/821154 Return to Top

Sputnik International – Russian Information Agency Missile Defense Not Enough: Pentagon Open to Preemptive Strikes 17 September 2015 Ahead of the release of a Joint Staff study of US missile defenses, the Pentagon is looking at new ways to stop missile attacks, including preemptive strikes, the head of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command said. Current missile defenses rely on shooting down the incoming weapon – and usually when it is relatively close to the target.

TASS Russian News Agency – Moscow, Russia Source: Cutting-Edge Ballistic Missile to Be Fielded with Russian Missile Force in 2016 The first regiment is to enter combat duty as part of the Strategic Missile Force division in Irkutsk next year September 16, 2015 MOSCOW, September 16. /TASS/. An advanced solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile derived from the RS-24 Yars (NATO reporting name SS-27 Mod. 2) and designated tentatively as RS-26 will be fielded with the Irkutsk-based Guards division in 2016, a source in Russian’s defense industry told TASS on Wednesday. "Its full-rate production is to be launched later in the year, and the first regiment is to enter combat duty as part of the Strategic Missile Force division in Irkutsk next year," the source said. As was reported in the press, the RS-26 will enter the Irkutsk Guards division’s inventory in 2015. However, its service entry had to be postponed due to several of its tests having been put off. The RS-26 missile, also known as Rubezh, is an RS-24 Yars derivative. It is supposed to be lighter than the Yars, but carry improved equipment and a multiple individually targeted re-entry vehicle. Only mobile launchers will fire off missiles like that, since no provision has been made for a silo-based version.

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Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile tests to commence in early 2016 The source noted that drop and flight tests of the advanced Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) will begin early in 2016. "Drop tests may start early next year," the source added. He also confirmed that a missile prototype would be made before the year-end. As was reported in the press, the Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Plant has manufactured the first structural elements of the missile. The sophisticated ICBM uses Russian-made electronic componentry only. The termination of equipment imports has not affected the program on the development of the latest ICBM. According to Viktor Yesin, former chief of staff of the Strategic Missile Force, the ICBM development program has advanced so far that the drop tests in 2016 may well be quickly followed by the flight trials. "The program is essentially on schedule," Yesin said. "It is possible that both drop tests will take place and flight tests will start in 2016." Speaking of the Defense Ministry requirements to the latest strategic missile system, the former Strategic Missile Force chief of staff said, "Work is under way to afford the missile a flexible responsiveness to the evolution of the US national missile defenses up to 2030." "The key requirements to the future missile boil down to improving its power plant over that of its predecessor, the RS-20V Voyevoda (NATO reporting name SS-18 Mod. 1, 2, 3 Satan), to enable the missile to penetrate the current and future US missile defenses," Yesin told TASS. "In addition, the power plant performance is to enable the weapon to reach targets via both the North and South poles." Viktor Yesin summed up. The Sarmat heavy ICBM is being co-developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya in Reutov (Moscow Region) and the Makeyev State Missile Center in Miass. According to the developers, the advanced Sarmat will weigh within 100 tons. According to Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov, its range will exceed 11,000 km. The cutting-edge missile is designed as a successor to the world’s largest and most formidable ballistic missile, the RS-20V Voyevoda, weighing 210 tons and carrying 10 individually targeted warheads 750 kilotons each. http://tass.ru/en/defense/821459 Return to Top

TASS Russian News Agency – Moscow, Russia Source: Flight Development Tests of Russia’s Sarmat ICBM to Start in Third Quarter of 2016 It was reported earlier on Thursday that drop tests of the Sarmat ICBM would be held at the Plesetsk launch site in north Russia in the spring of 2016 instead of 2015. September 17, 2015 MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. Flight development tests of Russia’s advanced Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) will start in the third quarter of 2016, a source in the defense industry told TASS on Thursday. It was reported earlier on Thursday that drop tests of the Sarmat ICBM would be held at the Plesetsk launch site in north Russia in the spring of 2016 instead of 2015, which was the date previously planned by the Defense Ministry. "As the schedule of the missile’s drop tests is shifted forward, the deadline for the start of its flight development tests is also moved forward. The former tests have been rescheduled for March 2016 and so the latter tests have been shifted to the third quarter of the same year," the source said.

BioPrepWatch.com – U.S. Homeland Security Demonstrates Nuclear Forensics Capabilities By BioPrepWatch Report Thursday, Sep 17, 2015 The director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) within the Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that her office was successful in demonstrating nuclear forensics capabilities. Huban Gowadia said that between July 27 and Aug. 21 the demonstration -- Mighty Sabre 2015 -- allowed DNDO and partner agencies to test the efficacy of the Discreet Oculus system prototype developed by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). "The U.S. government continues to develop formidable nuclear forensics capabilities in support of our policy to hold fully accountable any state, terrorist group, or other non-state actor that supports or enables terrorist efforts to obtain or use nuclear weapons," Gowadia said. The system uses light and radio frequency wave sensors to detect signals that are emitted during the detonation of a nuclear weapon. It also uses acoustic, seismic, radiation and air pressure information to further support other nuclear forensics data to determine characteristics of a weapon. DNDO is then able to share this information with law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Sensors have been installed in several metropolitan areas. The DNDO was joined by the DTRA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Air Force, the Office of the Director for Intelligence, and the National Nuclear Security Administration within the Department of Energy. http://bioprepwatch.com/stories/510638532-homeland-security-demonstrates-nuclear-forensics- capabilites Return to Top

Defense News – Tysons Corner, VA Analysis: RAND Says US Facing Tough Fight with China By Wendell Minnick September 17, 2015 TAIPEI — A new RAND report challenges the US military to rethink a war with China. The report examines US and Chinese military capabilities in 10 operational areas, producing a “scorecard” for each, from four years: 1996, 2003, 2010, and 2017. Each of the scorecards evaluates capabilities in the context of geography and distance, each of the scorecards evaluates capabilities in the context of two scenarios: a Taiwan invasion and a Spratly Islands campaign. These scenarios center on locations that lie roughly 160 km and 940 km, respectively, from the Chinese coastline. The 430-page report, U.S.-China Military Scorecard: Forces, Geography, and the Evolving Balance of Power, 1997-2017, was written by 14 scholars, including RAND’s wargaming whiz David Shlapak; modeling and

(CUWS) Outreach Journal simulation specialist Jeff Hagen; Kyle Brady, formerly with Lawrence Livermore; and operations researcher Michael Nixon. This report is about muscle and machines, not about policy and political issues. This is an objective ‘where the rubber meets the road’ analysis that looks at China’s capabilities at clobbering US air bases in the region, sinking US aircraft carriers with new anti-ship ballistic missiles, and turning American spy and communication satellites into space junk. The scorecard format with analysis gives the reader a sports-like feel for how bad things can go for the US military in a conflict with China. The 10 scorecards each address relative US and Chinese capabilities in a specific operational areas: air (1-4), maritime (5-6), space, cyber, and nuclear (7-10). Scorecard 1: Chinese Capability to Attack Air Bases Since the 1996-97 Taiwan Strait Missile Crisis, it has been assumed that China would cripple Taiwan’s air bases with multi-layered saturation attacks using short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM). However, today that now includes Kadena Air Base on Okinawa. The number of SRBMs from 1996 have grown from a handful to around 1,400, and the circular error probability has shrunk from hundreds of meters to as little as five meters. Even a relatively small number of accurate missiles could shut Kadena down during the critical days at the outset of a war, and “committed attacks might close a single base for weeks.” This will force American aircraft to fly from longer distances to engage Chinese forces, e.g. Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam. Scorecard 2: Air Campaigns Over Taiwan and the Spratly Islands China has replaced half of its fighter fleet with fourth-generation fighters. The impact of this effort has been to narrow, but not close, the qualitative gap between the US and China air forces. However, this has led to problems creeping into protecting Taiwan in 2017. By that year, “US commanders would be unable to find the basing required for US forces to prevail in a seven-day campaign,” but they could relax their time requirement and prevail in a more extended campaign, but this would entail leaving ground and naval forces vulnerable to Chinese air operations for a longer period of time. Scorecard 3: US Penetration of Chinese Airspace Chinese air defense advances have made it more difficult to operate in or near Chinese airspace. In 1996, China’s surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems were largely copies of older Russian systems, such as the 35 km range SA-2. By 2010, China deployed roughly 200 launchers for “double-digit SAMs” with more sophisticated seekers with ranges of up to 200 km. The analysis showed net gains for China from 1996 to 2017 with improved integrated air defense systems, fourth generation fighters, and airborne early warning aircraft. However, in a Spratly Island scenario, far from mainland China, the U.S. ability to penetrate targets is far more robust due to the use of stealth aircraft and a much smaller target set. Scorecard 4: US Capability to Attack Chinese Air Bases While penetrating Chinese airspace is more dangerous, the development of American-made precision weapons has given the US more options and greater punch in a Taiwan scenario. Examples such as the Joint Direct Attack Munitions and longer-range standoff weapons give the US some advantages in China’s backyard. The report modeled attacks on the 40 Chinese air bases within unrefueled fighter range of Taiwan. In 1996, the US could close down runways for an average of eight hours, and this increased to between two and three days by 2010, and remains roughly the same in 2017. “While ground attack represents a rare bright spot for relative US performance, it is important to note that the inventory of standoff weapons is finite, and performance in a longer conflict would depend on a wider range of factors.” Scorecard 5: Chinese Anti-Surface Warfare Capabilities China has a near obsession with US aircraft carriers since the US deployed two during the 1996-1997 Taiwan Strait Missile Crisis. A common joke now bandied about amongst China defense analysts is that when there is a crisis, the US president always asks ‘where is the nearest aircraft carrier?’ But in a future crisis, the first thing a Chinese president asks is ‘where is the nearest US aircraft carrier?’ Issue No.1183, 18 September 2015 United States Air Force Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies| Maxwell AFB, Alabama http://cpc.au.af.mil \ https://twitter.com/USAF_CUWS Phone: 334.953.7538 | Fax: 334.953.7226 USAF Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies CUWS Outreach Journal Maxwell AFB, Alabama China has finally reached the point where it can hold at risk US aircraft carriers with new anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM), the first ever deployed by any nation. Though the report indicates that the kill chain still makes ASBMs vulnerable to US countermeasures, the US has to face the fact that China has developed a capability to locate and engage US carriers that will only improve in the years to come. At present, China has an increasingly robust over-the-horizon intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability, which includes military imaging satellites. Along with the ASBM threat, the US must consider the increased sophistication of Chinese submarines armed with cruise missiles and torpedoes. Scorecard 6: US Anti-Surface Warfare Capabilities Versus Chinese Naval Ships The US does a far better job preventing a Chinese amphibious landing on Taiwan. Thanks largely to submarines, air power, and surface forces, the report indicates that 40 percent of Chinese amphibious shipping would be destroyed during a seven-day campaign, “losses that would likely wreck havoc on the organizational integrity of a landing force.” However, China is improving its anti-submarine warfare helicopters and ships, and is continuing to expand its fleet of amphibious vessels. Since 1996, China has doubled its amphibious lift capabilities, and its fleet now includes four large Type 071-class transport docks that can carry four air cushion landing craft. Scorecard 7: US Counterspace Capabilities Versus Chinese Space Systems In response to China’s increased dependence on satellites and worrying signs it was developing counterspace weapons, in 2002 the US began funding selective counterspace capabilities. This includes the creation in 2004 of the Counter Communication System to jam enemy communications satellites. The report also suggests the US develop high-energy laser systems to dazzle Chinese satellites’ optical sensors, and task ballistic missile interceptors to shoot down Chinese satellites. These recommendations are largely the result of China’s 2007 shoot-down of one of its weather satellites, and not a unilateral decision made by the US. Scorecard 8: Chinese Counterspace Capabilities Versus US Space Systems China has tested three kinetic anti-satellite missile tests since 2007 at low earth orbits (LEO). China also operates laser-ranging stations that could dazzle US satellites or track their orbits to facilitate other forms of attack. The report found that threats to U.S. communication satellites in the form of jamming and imaging systems that are in LEO are severe. The report argues that “more worrisome” are the China’s Russian-made jamming systems and high-powered dual-use radio transmitters, which might be used against US communication and ISR satellites. Scorecard 9: US and Chinese Cyberwarfare Capabilities China’s cyber units have been in operation since the late 1990s and are closely tied or operated by the Chinese military. Though the US has suffered from serious attacks, most notably the recent US Office of Personnel Management incident, the report indicates the US “might not fare as poorly in the cyber domain as many assume” during wartime. The US Cyber Command works closely with the US National Security Agency and can draw heavily on the latter’s sophisticated toolkit. Despite the US advantage during wartime, both will “nevertheless face significant surprises” and US logistical efforts are particularly vulnerable, since they rely on unclassified networks on the Internet. Scorecard 10: US and Chinese Strategic Nuclear Stability This scorecard evaluates the survivability of both sides’ second-strike nuclear capabilities in the face of a first strike. China has improved its nuclear forces steadily since 1996 with the introduction of new intercontinental ballistic missiles, such as the DF-31/31A and an upgraded MIRV-capable DF-5. The navy has also deployed their first operational JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile aboard its Jin-class submarines. Despite these new capabilities China does not have the capability of denying the US a second strike capability. The U.S. has a numerical warhead advantage of 13 to one. Conclusions and Recommendations The report states that over the next five to 15 years, if US and Chinese forces remain on current trajectories, Asia will witness a progressively receding frontier of US dominance. Chinese forces will become more capable

(CUWS) Outreach Journal of establishing temporary local air and naval superiority at the outset of a conflict, and this might enable China to “achieve limited objectives without defeating US forces.” “Perhaps more worrisome from a military-political perspective, the ability to contest dominance might lead Chinese leaders to believe that they could deter US intervention in a conflict between it and one or more of its neighbors.” This could undermine US deterrence and could during a crisis tip the balance of debate in China as to the advisability of using force. The report recommends that the US work to shape Chinese leaders misperceptions that US military strength is weakening in the region and emphasize there are serious risks of engaging US military forces. Procurement priorities should be adjusted to emphasize base redundancy and survivability, more standoff weapons, stealthy survivable fighters and bombers, improved submarine and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and a robust space and counterspace program. The US military should also make rapid cuts to legacy fighter forces and decrease the emphasis on large aircraft carriers. The US military should consider an active denial strategy that uses Asia’s strategic depth and “enables US forces to absorb initial blows and fight their way back.” Defense of static positions near China “may simply become unaffordable.” Political-military relations with regional nations should be expanded with an emphasis on wartime access to facilities and bases, particularly in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. Despite these efforts, the US faces serious challenges in the region. China has a narrower focus on a range of regional missions, especially Taiwan, which allows it to optimize its forces for those jobs. “Geographically — the ‘bones of strategy’ — vastly complicates the challenges faced by the United States.” The close proximity of China to areas of potential conflict allows it to capitalize on relatively secure staging areas. “This enables the PLA to focus largely on ‘tooth’ (combat forces) as opposed to ‘tail’ (support assets).” In contrast, the US must maintain an extensive sea and air logistical capacity, along with a largely space-based communication system, that are vulnerable to disruption by China. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/policy-budget/warfare/2015/09/17/analysis-rand-says-us- facing-tough-fight-china/72304540/ Return to Top

NASASpaceFlight.com Long March 3B Conducts another Secretive Launch By Rui C. Barbosa September 12, 2015 A super-secretive satellite was launched by China from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Saturday. Launch of the unknown spacecraft – unofficially claimed to be the Communications Engineering Test Satellite -1 (TXJSSY-1) – took place at 15:42 UTC using a Long March-3B (Chang Zheng-3B) rocket, as the Chinese continue their build up in space. Chinese Launch: There is very little information regarding the satellite, with an announcement only provided to the Chinese media – heavily controlled by the Chinese government – the following morning. Rumors circling on specialized Chinese space forums initially pointed to this launch involving the first Great Wall (Changcheng) satellite – a new series of Chinese satellites dedicated to early warning similar to the American Space Based Infra-Red Sensor satellites.

Issue No.1183, 18 September 2015 United States Air Force Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies| Maxwell AFB, Alabama http://cpc.au.af.mil \ https://twitter.com/USAF_CUWS Phone: 334.953.7538 | Fax: 334.953.7226 USAF Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies CUWS Outreach Journal Maxwell AFB, Alabama However, one unofficial source claimed the spacecraft launched was the Communications Engineering Test Satellite -1 (TXJSSY-1) The initial rumors began when Japan’s Kyodo News reported that China was building a missile defense system to detect a ballistic missile attack. The report was based on Chinese military documents that referred the development of an experimental early warning satellite program. Additionally the report pointed out that China had started the development of an X-band radar system as part of a ground-based interceptor system. The official announcement by the Chinese media opted to describe the satellite as a communication technology experimental satellite, without citing any official name – such as TXJSSY-1 – in the release that only consisted of a photo and a byline. Adding to the recent increase in secrecy by the Chinese, another launch – believed to be a Yaogan-2 satellite – has been pushed up to Monday. Launch vehicle and launch site: Developed from the Chang Zheng-3A, the Chang Zheng-3B is the most powerful launch vehicle on the Chinese space launch fleet. The CZ-3B features enlarged launch propellant tanks, improved computer systems, a larger 4.2 meter diameter payload fairing and the addition of four strap-on boosters in the core stage that provide additional help during the first phase of the launch. The rocket is capable of launching an 11,200 kg satellite to a low Earth orbit or a 5,100 kg cargo to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The CZ-3B/G2 (Enhanced Version) launch vehicle was developed from the CZ-3B, increasing the GTO capacity up to 5,500kg. On May 14, 2007, the first flight of CZ-3B/G2 was performed successfully, accurately sending the NigcomSat-1 into pre-determined orbit. With the GTO launch capability of 5,500kg, CZ-3B/G2 is dedicated for launching heavy GEO communications satellite. The rocket structure also combines all sub-systems together and is composed of four strap-on boosters, a first stage, a second stage, a third stage and payload fairing. The first two stages – as well as the four strap-on boosters – use hypergolic (N2O4/UDMH) fuel while the third stage uses cryogenic (LOX/LH2) fuel. The total length of the CZ-3B is 54.838 meters, with a diameter of 3.35 meters on the core stage and 3.00 meters on the third stage. On the first stage, the CZ-3B uses a YF-21C engine with a 2,961.6 kN thrust and a specific impulse of 2,556.5 Ns/kg. The first stage diameter is 3.35 m and the stage length is 23.272 m. Each strap-on booster is equipped with a YF-25 engine with a 740.4 kN thrust and a specific impulse of 2,556.2 Ns/kg. The strap-on booster diameter is 2.25 m and the strap-on booster length is 15.326 m. The second stage is equipped with a YF-24E (main engine – 742 kN / 2,922.57 Ns/kg; four vernier engines – 47.1 kN / 2,910.5 Ns/kg each). The second stage diameter is 3.35 m and the stage length is 12.920 m. The third stage is equipped with a YF-75 engine developing 167.17 kN and with a specific impulse of 4,295 Ns/kg. The fairing diameter of the CZ-3B is 4.00 meters and has a length of 9.56 meters. The CZ-3B can also use the new Yuanzheng-1 (“Expedition-1″) upper stage that uses a small thrust 6.5 kN engine burning UDMH/N2O4 with a specific impulse at 3,092 m/s. The upper stage is able to conduct two burns, having a 6.5 hour lifetime and is capable of achieving a variety of orbits. This upper stage was not used on this launch. The Xichang Satellite Launch Centre is situated in the Sichuan Province, south-western China and is the country’s launch site for geosynchronous orbital launches.

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Equipped with two launch pads (LC2 and LC3), the centre has a dedicated railway and highway lead directly to the launch site. The Command and Control Centre is located seven kilometers south-west of the launch pad, providing flight and safety control during launch rehearsal and launch. The CZ-3B launch pad is located at 28.25 deg. N – 102.02 deg. E and at an elevation of 1,825 meters. Other facilities on the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre are the Launch Control Centre, propellant fuelling systems, communications systems for launch command, telephone and data communications for users, and support equipment for meteorological monitoring and forecasting. The first launch from Xichang took place at 12:25UTC on January 29, 1984 when the Chang Zheng-3 (CZ3-1) was launched the Shiyan Weixing (14670 1984-008A) communications satellite into orbit. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/09/long-march-3b-conducts-another-secretive-launch/ Return to Top

Yonhap News Agency – Seoul, South Korea N. Korea Vows to Launch Rocket September 15, 2015 SEOUL/WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Monday that it plans to launch a rocket at a time of its choosing as it has the right to conduct space research, cementing speculation over a provocation by the country near its key anniversary. North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration "is pushing forward in the final phase the development of a new earth observation satellite for weather forecast," the Korean Central News Agency said. "The world will clearly see a series of satellites of (North) Korea soaring into the sky at the times and locations determined by the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea," the KCNA reported in an English statement, without elaborating. The report came amid growing speculation that the North is expected to launch a long-range missile around Oct. 10, the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party. The North has claimed it has the right to conduct space research by test-firing what it called rockets, which outside analysts view as a cover for missile tests. "Space development for peaceful purposes is a sovereign state's legitimate right recognized by international law and the Party and the people of the DPRK are fully determined to exercise this right no matter what others may say about it," the KCNA said. The DPRK is the acronym of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. In Washington, the State Department said it is aware of the North's statement, but declined any further comment. "We have seen the statement. We will not speculate on the timing of the statement, or any possible provocative actions by the DPRK (North Korea)," State Department spokesperson Anna Richey-Allen said in comments sent to Yonhap News Agency. The North's missile and nuclear programs have flared up tension on the Korean Peninsula amid concerns that it may soon develop the technology to mount a nuclear warhead on long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

Sky News.com – Australia N.Korea Restarts Nuclear Reactor, Warns US Tuesday, 15 September 2015 North Korea has confirmed restarting a nuclear reactor seen as its main source of weapons-grade plutonium, raising the second red flag in 24 hours over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The confirmation, by the head of the North's Atomic Energy Institute, came hard on the heels of suggestions by the chief of the national space agency of a possible satellite rocket launch next month. In an interview with the North's official KCNA news agency on Tuesday, the director of the AEI said all facilities at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, including a five-megawatt reactor, had "started normal operations". North Korea mothballed the Yongbyon reactor in 2007 under a six-nation aid-for-disarmament accord, but began renovating it after its last nuclear test in 2013.When fully operational, the reactor is capable of producing around six kilos of plutonium a year - enough for one nuclear bomb, experts say. The AEI director said scientists had been "steadily improving" both the quality and quantity of the North's nuclear deterrent and he issued a by-now standard warning to the United States. "If the US and other hostile forces persistently seek their reckless hostile policy ... (North Korea) is fully ready to cope with them with nuclear weapons any time," he said. The warning followed strong hints from Pyongyang that it is considering a satellite rocket launch to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on October 10."The world will clearly see a series of satellites ... soaring into the sky at the times and locations determined by the WPK central committee," the director of the North's National Aerospace Development Administration said late on Monday. The North insists its rocket launches are intended to put peaceful satellites into orbit. The US and its allies see them as disguised ballistic missile tests. North Korea's main diplomatic ally China has protected it from tougher sanctions over its nuclear and missile tests, but is seen as increasingly impatient with its provocative behaviour.

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Some analysts pointed to Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled state visit to the United States later this month as a reason for the North's recent statements. "Pyongyang wants the North Korea issue high on the agenda of Xi's talks with President Obama," said Koh Yu- Hwan, a North Korea expert at Dongguk University in Seoul. "The North always wants the attention of the global community and knows that flagging its weapons programs is one way to get it," Koh said. South Korea, the United States and Japan all warned on Tuesday that any fresh launch would violate UN resolutions banning the North from using ballistic missile technology. Urging Pyongyang to refrain from what would be a "serious act of provocation", Seoul said it would not hesitate to press the UN Security Council for "a quick and effective response". At the same time the South's defence ministry stressed that no activity had been observed to suggest a rocket launch was imminent. Recent satellite images show the North has carried out significant upgrades of facilities at its main Sohae satellite launch station. China also called on Pyongyang to "earnestly adhere" to UN resolutions and warned against any actions that might escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula. http://www.skynews.com.au/news/world/asiapacific/2015/09/15/n-korea-restarts-nuclear-reactor-- warns-us.html Return to Top

The Japan Times – Tokyo, Japan North Korea ‘Hot Cell’ Unit Could Mean Better, Larger Nuclear Bombs: U.S. Experts Agence France-Presse (AFP)-JIJI September 16, 2015 SEOUL – North Korea could be separating isotopes used to manufacture sophisticated and more powerful nuclear bombs, U.S. experts warned Wednesday, after Pyongyang announced its main atomic weapons complex was fully operational. The head of the North’s atomic agency said Tuesday that all facilities at the Nyongbyon nuclear complex — including a uranium enrichment plant and a five-megawatt reactor seen as the country’s main source of weapons-grade plutonium — had “started normal operations.” He also claimed the North was “steadily improving” its nuclear weapons in terms of “quality and quantity.” The announcement came just hours after the chief of the national space agency hinted at a satellite rocket launch next month — seen by the U.S. and its allies as a step towards the development of a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile. Both statements — accompanied by a routine threat that nuclear weapons could be used against the United States at “any time” — were seen as military muscle-flexing for both domestic and international audiences. At home, the North is planning a massive military parade to mark a key political anniversary on Oct. 10, while Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities will feature high on the agenda of an expected summit later this month between the Chinese and U.S. presidents. The Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said satellite imagery analysis was unable to confirm that all the facilities at the Nyongbyon complex were fully functional, although there

The People’s Daily Online – Beijing, China China Treads Peaceful Path after DPRK Announces Nuclear Move By ZHAO YINAN (China Daily) September 16, 2015 China has called for denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and the avoidance of any actions that could escalate tension in the region. The move follows Pyongyang's decision to reopen nuclear facilities and its threats to launch long-range rockets. Hong Lei, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated China's denuclearization policy on the Korean Peninsula and its quest for peace and stability in the region. "We call for solutions to the problems through dialogue, and we hope that the parties concerned will take steps conducive to maintaining the peace and stability of the peninsula. "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's right to exploit outer space is limited by the United Nations, and the sanctions should be carried out faithfully," Hong said.

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He was commenting on Pyongyang's resumption of its main nuclear complex in Yongbyon, a city about 100 kilometers northeast of the capital, and the country's threat to launch satellites on long-range rockets. The Republic of Korea Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that the firing of a long-range missile would represent a serious violation of the UN resolutions, but added that it had not detected any signs that the DPRK was preparing for such a launch. Experts said Pyongyang's tactics are aimed at spurring talks with the United States, but they have also struck a blow to relations with China. China is planning an international seminar in Beijing on Friday with parties involved in the six-nation talks on ending the DPRK's nuclear program, hoping to bring the issue back to the negotiating table. The six-nation talks have been stalled since early 2009. Zhu Feng, director of the Institute of International Studies at Nanjing University, said Pyongyang's decision to reopen its nuclear facilities will aggravate tensions on the Korean Peninsula and compel the UN to consider new sanctions against the country. "If so, China is very likely to support the sanctions," he said. Shi Yongming, an Asia-Pacific studies research fellow at the China Institute of International Relations, said, "China could offer a packaged denuclearization plan, including measures to help economic development, as a solution to the problem." Xinhua contributed to this story. http://en.people.cn/n/2015/0916/c90000-8950494.html Return to Top

The Guardian (U.S. Edition) – New York, NY Australia Defends Opposition to Global Push for Nuclear Weapons Ban Foreign affairs department ‘sees no value’ in a pledge, endorsed by 116 countries to eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide By Ben Doherty Thursday, 17 September 2015 Australia has defended its position on nuclear disarmament, saying a push for a global treaty banning nuclear weapons “will not lead to their elimination”. Guardian Australia reported on Wednesday on a cache of diplomatic cables released under a freedom of information request, showing Australia resisting a growing momentum behind an Austrian-led “humanitarian pledge” to “stigmatise, prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons. The pledge, now endorsed by 116 countries, is seen as a precursor to a new global treaty outlawing all nuclear weapons. But a spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) told Guardian Australia it “sees no value” in the Austrian pledge because it ignores the realpolitik of the global nuclear landscape. None of the five “declared” nuclear nations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty – the US, Britain, France, China and Russia – have endorsed the Austrian pledge. Nor have any of the countries which have nuclear weapons outside the NPT: India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea.

Issue No.1183, 18 September 2015 United States Air Force Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies| Maxwell AFB, Alabama http://cpc.au.af.mil \ https://twitter.com/USAF_CUWS Phone: 334.953.7538 | Fax: 334.953.7226 USAF Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies CUWS Outreach Journal Maxwell AFB, Alabama “The Austrian pledge ignores the reality that to eliminate nuclear weapons the international community must address the security as well as the humanitarian dimensions of nuclear weapons,” the Dfat spokeswoman said. Disarmament efforts must involve the world’s nuclear weapons states, she said. “Only through taking ... practical steps to enable nuclear-armed states to disarm, can we eliminate nuclear weapons”. Australia is also reticent to support a global ban on nuclear weapons because it is reliant on the nuclear weapons of the US for “extended nuclear deterrence”. “Our alliance with the United States is the bedrock of our national security arrangements, and this includes a reliance on extended nuclear deterrence provided by US forces,” Dfat said. “As long as the threat of nuclear attack exists, no matter how small the likelihood, Australia will continue to rely on this assurance.” The current global mechanism for nuclear disarmament is the 1968 non-proliferation treaty. But the disarmament “pillar” of the treaty is widely regarded as having failed. While the superpowers are slowly reducing their stockpiles, they are, at the same time, working to develop new weapons systems or upgrade existing ones. And non-NPT India, Pakistan, and North Korea have increased their nuclear stockpiles in recent years. Australia says it is committed to disarmament under the NPT, and other measures such as the comprehensive test ban treaty, and negotiations over a fissile material cut-off treaty. “But clearly the strongest assurance against nuclear attack is the total elimination of nuclear weapons,” Dfat told Guardian Australia, “and for this reason the Australian government works hard to further international efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament.” In cables back to Canberra, Australian diplomats have highlighted the weaknesses in the non-proliferation treaty process. In a briefing prepared for the foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, officials concede “prospects are bleak for meaningful progress in multilateral arms control”. The FOI request that revealed the government correspondence was made by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a coalition of NGOs from more than 95 countries, whose aim is a global ban on nuclear weapons. Its Asia-Pacific director, Tim Wright, told Guardian Australia the humanitarian pledge had developed an international momentum, and he was confident it would lead to new global negotiations towards outlawing nuclear weapons. The Australian government’s argument that it required the protection of a foreign power’s nuclear weapons was “a long-held belief that has gone unchallenged”. “Nuclear weapons undermine safety, they do not enhance it,” Wright said. A global ban treaty on nuclear weapons would help create a new international norm that the weapons should not be used in any situation. Professor Ramesh Thakur, director of the centre for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament at the Australian National University, said Australian diplomats had underestimated support for the humanitarian pledge. “What is really clear from these cables, but not explicitly stated, is that Australian officials have been very surprised, they have been taken aback, by the strength of support for the humanitarian consequences pledge, and they are scrambling to explain that.

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“Support for the humanitarian consequences pledge is making Australia’s position more difficult; it is galvanising public and political opinion, and Australia finds itself running against the domestic and international tide.” http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/18/australia-defends-its-opposition-to-global-nuclear- weapon-ban Return to Top

Russia Beyond the Headlines (RBTH) – Moscow, Russia All Chemical Weapons Stocks Destroyed at Fourth of 7 Russian Depots Interfax News Agency September 12, 2015 The last chemical aviation bomb was sent for disposal at the Maradykovsky facility for the storage and destruction of chemical weapons in the Kirov region, chief of the Federal Directorate for safe storage and destruction of chemical weapons Col. Gen. Valery Kapashin told Interfax-AVN on Sept.11. "Maradykovsky became the fourth one, following the facilities Gorny in the Saratov region, Kambarka in Udmurtia and Leonidovka in the Penza region which performed the set task fully and, most importantly, safely. Some 6,900 tonnes of toxic agents charged in more than 40,000 [items of] aviation chemical ammunition were destroyed here. Some of them are [items of] ammunition with a sophisticated design which contained not only the toxic substance, but also explosives, and it was impossible to extract it," Kapashin said. In his view, the Federal Directorate jointly with Russian scientists and engineers "coped with all difficulties with honor". "Meanwhile, only domestic technologies of chemical weapons destruction were used," the general said. "Before the end of this year the destruction of chemical weapons will be also completed fully in the Bryansk region [the Pochep facility] and in the Kurgan region [the Shchuchye facility]," Kapashin said. In the future the Russian chemical disarmament program will be continued at the Kizner chemical arms disposal facility in Udmurtia, which was the last one to be put into operation in December 2013. By now around 39 percent of existing toxic agent stocks have been destroyed in Kizner and more than 91 percent in Russia as a whole, Kapashin said. http://rbth.com/news/2015/09/12/all_chemical_weapons_stocks_destroyed_at_fourth_of_7_russian_depots_ 49192.html Return to Top

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) News – London, U.K. Jeremy Corbyn Wins Labour Leadership Contest and Vows "Fightback" 12 September 2015 Jeremy Corbyn has promised to lead a Labour "fightback" after being elected the party's new leader by a landslide. The veteran left-winger got almost 60% of more than 400,000 votes cast, trouncing his rivals Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall. He immediately faced an exodus of shadow cabinet members - but senior figures including Ed Miliband urged the party's MPs to get behind him. Issue No.1183, 18 September 2015 United States Air Force Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies| Maxwell AFB, Alabama http://cpc.au.af.mil \ https://twitter.com/USAF_CUWS Phone: 334.953.7538 | Fax: 334.953.7226 USAF Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies CUWS Outreach Journal Maxwell AFB, Alabama Mr Corbyn was a 200-1 outsider when the three-month contest began. But he was swept to victory on a wave of enthusiasm for his anti-austerity message and promise to scrap Britain's nuclear weapons and renationalise the railways and major utilities. He told BBC News he had been a "bit surprised" by the scale of his victory but his campaign had showed "politics can change and we have changed it". 'Jez we did' He will now select his shadow cabinet. Labour has confirmed Rosie Winterton will return as chief whip, but a string of existing cabinet members including Ms Cooper, Tristram Hunt and Rachel Reeves, have all ruled themselves out of serving on the front bench. He has hinted that he wants to change the format of Prime Minister's Questions - he faces David Cameron across the dispatch box for the first time on Wednesday - suggesting other Labour MPs might get a turn. And on Saturday night, he emailed party members asking them to submit questions the weekly exchange. "I want to be your voice," he wrote. The Islington North MP won on the first round of voting in the leadership contest, taking 251,417 of the 422,664 votes cast - against 19% for Mr Burnham, 17% for Ms Cooper and 4.5% for Ms Kendall. Former minister and Gordon Brown ally Tom Watson was elected deputy leader. Corbyn supporters chanted "Jez we did" as he took to the stage, putting on his glasses to deliver his acceptance speech. The left-winger, who has spent his entire 32-year career in the Commons on the backbenches, promised to fight for a more tolerant and inclusive Britain - and to tackle "grotesque levels of inequality in our society". He said the leadership campaign "showed our party and our movement, passionate, democratic, diverse, united and absolutely determined in our quest for a decent and better society that is possible for all". "They are fed up with the inequality, the injustice, the unnecessary poverty. All those issues have brought people in, in a spirit of hope and optimism." He said his campaign had given the lie to claims that young Britons were apathetic about politics, showing instead that they were "a very political generation that were turned off by the way in which politics was being conducted - we have to, and must, change that". Mr Corbyn added: "The fightback now of our party gathers speed and gathers pace." His first act as leader was to attend a "refugees welcome here" rally, joining tens of thousands of people marching through central London in support of the rights of refugees. Addressing cheering crowds in Parliament Square, he delivered an impassioned plea to the government to recognise its legal obligations to refugees from Syria and elsewhere and to find "peaceful solutions to the world's problems". "Open your hearts, open your minds, open your attitude to suffering people, who are desperate and who are in need of somewhere safe to live," added the new Labour leader. Singer Billy Bragg then led the crowd in a rendition of socialist anthem The Red Flag. Mr Corbyn earlier told supporters his first day at the helm of his party in Parliament would be spent opposing government plans to "shackle" trade unions by imposing higher thresholds for strike ballots. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-34223157 Return to Top

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The Independent – London, U.K. Trident: Defence Expert Says It Would Be 'Unwise' for SNP to Base Second Independence Referendum on Opposition to Nuclear Weapons By Jamie Merrill Monday 14 September 2015 A leading Scottish defence expert has warned that there is no evidence the Scottish public are opposed to Trident and that it would be “very risky and probably unwise” for the SNP to base a second independence referendum on opposition to the renewal of the nuclear weapons system. Over the weekend former SNP leader Alex Salmond indicated that a £100bn renewal of the UK’s nuclear deterrent could prompt a second Scottish independent referendum, telling The Herald that opposition to weapons of mass destruction was “in the SNP’s DNA.” This was followed by party leader Nicola Sturgeon saying that Chancellor George Osborne was “arrogantly pressing ahead” with Trident investment “even though the House of Commons hasn’t decided to renew Trident”. Ms Sturgeon was speaking as a poll showed support for independence was growing. However, Dr Phillips O’Brien, a top expert at Glasgow University, told The Independent that there is “no convincing statistical evidence” that the majority of Scots are actually opposed to Trident. He said: “Basing an independence referendum on a renewal of trident would be very risky and probably unwise. There is no convincing statistical evidence that a significant majority of Scots are opposed to Trident.” Ms Sturgeon said she will shortly outline the potential circumstances for another independence referendum, but Mr Salmond’s intervention is likely to lead many to speculate that the renewal of Trident in Westminster could be a trigger issue. His comments came after the SNP reacted with anger to a visit by Mr Osborne last month to Faslane , where the UK’s Vanguard nuclear missile submarines are based, to announce a £500m investment in the site. A vote on the so-called “main gate” decision, to go-ahead with Trident, is due in early 2016 and will coincide with the Scottish parliamentary election campaign. Dr Brien added that it would be “unlikely that the Westminster government would approve a [second] referendum” if called by the SNP over Trident. He said: “In that case, in which instance a vote held by Scotland on its own could lack any legitimacy for the European Union. Certainly a much stronger case for another referendum would be if the UK as a whole voted to leave the EU, while a majority of Scots voted to stay in.” The clash over Trident comes as a string of polls have shown that the wider Scottish public is not as strongly opposed to the renewal of Trident as the SNP, including a YouGov poll over the weekend which found that 53 per cent of Scots back the retention of nuclear weapons, while 37 per cent think they should be abolished. Unsurprisingly, SNP voters were most likely to support a ban on nuclear weapons, according to the poll for The Times, however even in this group, the poll did not find a majority. This follows an Ipsos Mori for STV poll last month which found that 41 per cent of Scots considered the renewal of Trident as sufficient cause to trigger a second referendum. Meanwhile Professor William Walker, from the department of International Relations at St Andrews University, said the election of Jeremy Corbyn, vice chair of CND and an opponent of nuclear weapons, and the prospect of a Labour/SNP anti-Trident alliance would be unlikely to delay government plans. He told The Independent: “The Conservative Government is likely to steam ahead with it (what else could it imagine doing), but at considerable cost and risk”. This comes after SNP defence spokesperson Brendan O’Hara MP, said last night that Mr Corbyn must “restate his commitment to opposing” Trident after appointing “pro-Trident Maria Eagle MP” to the position of Shadow Defence Secretary suggested he was “wavering” on the issue. Issue No.1183, 18 September 2015 United States Air Force Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies| Maxwell AFB, Alabama http://cpc.au.af.mil \ https://twitter.com/USAF_CUWS Phone: 334.953.7538 | Fax: 334.953.7226 USAF Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies CUWS Outreach Journal Maxwell AFB, Alabama Mr O’Hara said: “If Mr Corbyn and Labour have any hope of being treated seriously by the vast majority of voters in Scotland then he must restate his commitment to backing the SNP’s plan to scrap the replacement of Trident. Indeed, if he cannot many more people in Scotland are likely to conclude that independence is the only way to ensure getting rid of Trident.” Malcolm Chalmers, a defence expert at RUSI, said: “The Corbyn result means that the leaders of all three main opposition parties in the Commons will be voting against renewal. But Jeremy Corbyn can’t set Labour policy on Trident by himself. “There is a question as to whether the Labour Party will even have an official policy on Trident before a Commons vote. There may be a temptation to paper over divisions on the issue by setting up a prolonged policy review. If this is what happens, then the logic would be to allow Labour MPs a free vote in the Commons. “Whether the vote is free or whipped, many Labour MPs (including some shadow cabinet members) are likely to vote in support of renewal. Tom Watson has made it clear that he has a mandate to support Trident as the elected deputy leader. His stance is likely to be followed by dozens of other Labour MPs. So renewal is likely to go through with a comfortable majority for the government.” Lord Admiral West, a former Labour security minister and senior Royal Navy officer, told The Independent he was still “concerned” that the a Corbyn-led Labour alliance with the SNP may prevent the renewal of Trident. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/trident-defence-expert-says-it-would-be-unwise-for- snp-to-base-second-independence-referendum-on-opposition-to-nuclear-weapons-10500792.html Return to Top

TASS Russian News Agency – Moscow, Russia Russia Develops Directed-Energy Weapons Laser, acoustic, holographic and kinetic systems are among them, these are lasers designed not to destroy objects but to ‘blind’ them because the latter requires far less energy September 16, 2015 MOSCOW, September 16. /TASS/. Work in under way in Russia on directed-energy weapons, a source in Russia’s defense industry told TASS on Wednesday. Asked by TASS to comment on a message from the DSEi 2015 international show in London to the effect that the Royal Navy intends to adopt lasers for service by 2020, the Russian defense industry source said: "Russian engineers developing weapons reliant on new physical principles are aware of the foreign efforts in the directed-energy weapons field". Of the basic types of the above weapons, he singled out laser, acoustic, holographic and kinetic systems. "First off, these are lasers designed not to destroy objects but to ‘blind’ them because the latter requires far less energy," he added. In his words, blinding and immobilizing surface or submerged targets makes their destruction easier. However, the power plants of ships will have to be changed and their power will have to be redistributed in favor of the future weapons for directed-energy weapons to be installed on future ships. "Another type of advanced weapons involves kinetic weapons — electromagnetic guns that dissolve a target by means of high kinetic energy, rather than punch through it," the expert clarified. According to the source, acoustic weapons will be effective against surveillance systems. There are also holographic weapons, the source said without going into detail on their purpose. Royal Navy Adm. George Zambellas said at DSEi 2015 in London: "Energy weapons don’t require conventional ammunition. With a cost-per-shot potentially measured in pence rather than pounds, they offer

(CUWS) Outreach Journal a route to address the spiralling costs of missile development and production, as well as reducing supply chain demands." "The Royal Navy plans to demonstrate a directed energy weapon at sea by the end of the decade," Adm. Zambellas said. The admiral added that the British Armed Services hoped for getting weapons not just to blind the enemy or render its electronics inefficient but able to destroy fast targets, too. http://tass.ru/en/defense/821623 Return to Top

Sputnik International – Russian Information Agency Cameron: NATO, Trident Nukes Protecting UK from Global Danger UK Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to maintain the national security. 16 September 2015 MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent, along with its two percent GPD defense spending level, are the country’s "ultimate insurance policy" against the dangers of the modern world, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said Wednesday. In July, UK Chancellor George Osborne announced that Britain would commit to its NATO defense spending pledge of two percent of the gross domestic product in the member country over the next five years. "The cornerstone of our defense will remain the two-percent spending that we have committed to, with the increased defense budget in this parliament, with the membership of NATO, and Britain’s own independent nuclear deterrent as the ultimate insurance policy in what is a dangerous world," he claimed. Cameron, answering lawmakers during a Questions to the Prime Minister weekly session in the UK House of Commons, suggested that rival Labour Party was "turning away" from national security spending in a "deeply regrettable" action. "National security is the most important thing a government can deliver and we will never fall short," he reasserted. Osborne said late August that London had allocated the equivalent of $771 million to fund the Royal Navy’s Faslane, Scotland, submarine base. The base is the only UK facility capable of accommodating the country’s four Vanguard-class Trident ballistic- missile-armed submarines. Cameron’s Conservative Party, emerging victorious in the May 7 general election, had pledged to upgrade the aging Trident system. http://www.sputniknews.com/military/20150916/1027081084.html Return to Top

The Daily Telegraph – London, U.K. Jeremy Corbyn Softens Position on Trident and EU to Placate Labour Concerns Labour leader says he would stay in post if MPs agreed to keep nuclear weapons and says he cannot imagine campaigning to leave the EU By Ben Riley-Smith, Political Correspondent 16 September 2015 Jeremy Corbyn has softened his position on the European Union and Trident nuclear weapons after criticism from senior Labour Party figures. In a conciliatory move, the new Labour leader pledged to remain in post if his party decided to back renewal of Trident despite his lifelong opposition. Mr Corbyn also said he could not see himself campaigning to leave the EU despite repeatedly refusing to rule out the move during campaigning. It comes after he was forced to give a series of assurances to shadow cabinet figures over Trident, Nato and Europe to convince them to serve. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Corbyn responded to concerns from pro-EU Labour MPs over his stance on the forthcoming referendum by strongly indicating he would support an In vote. “We are having discussions to sort this question out. Basically, on the question of Europe I want to see a social Europe, a cohesive Europe, a coherent Europe, not a free market Europe," he said. "That is a developing position. It is not a problem, we have had that discussion, we are continuing that discussion, there will be very clear statements coming out in the very near future." Asked if he could envisage a situation where Labour campaigned for a British exit, Mr Corbyn said: "No, I don't see that position because I think we are going to be working with trade unions and social groups all across Europe as well as social groups in this country. "I see the way forward as how we develop the idea of a social Europe. What I was opposed to and remain opposed to is the idea that David Cameron could go around Europe and give up workers' rights, give up environmental protection, give up a whole lot of things that are very important." On Trident, Mr Corbyn pledged he would not resign even if the party agreed to keep nuclear weapons in an ongoing policy review. "I hope the party will come to a position of wanting us to become a nation that does not renew nuclear weapons, but we are not going to divide and ruin ourselves as a party over this,” he said. Asked if he would resign as leader if he failed to get his way, Mr Corbyn told Channel 4 News: “I'm not resigning. I have been elected on a mandate from more than a quarter of a million people." Setting out the changes he wanted to see in the way that Labour's policies are set, he said: "What we are going to have to do is change our policymaking process to empower local constituency parties and affiliated unions and take it through to conference in the future," he said. Mr Corbyn also defended his patriotism, saying: “Of course I love this country, I was born and brought up in this country and I love this country for so many things. “But I'd love this county to be socially just, a fair country, a decent country. I love our NHS and I love those things about our county and that is what is really important and that is what Labour is really about.”

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Mr Corbyn also attacked David Cameron over Syria, saying bombing in the country would increase deaths and not solve the crisis. He also claimed the drone strike ordered by Mr Cameron was “legally questionable.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11870223/Jeremy-Corbyn-softens-position-on- Trident-and-EU-to-placate-Labour-concerns.html Return to Top

The Times of Israel – Jerusalem, Israel Iran Says It Found Vast Quantities of Uranium Atomic czar says discovery leaves Tehran ‘confident’ regarding its reserves; material is a key ingredient in nuclear weapons-making By Times of Israel staff September 12, 2015 Iran has discovered a large quantity of uranium and will soon begin mining it, according to a top Iranian official in charge of the country’s atomic program. Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, said on Saturday that the new discovery makes Tehran “confident” regarding its reserves of the natural element. Uranium is a key ingredient in the making of nuclear weapons. Iran’s use of such materials is intended to be regulated under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, signed in Vienna in July. “I cannot announce (the level of) Iran’s uranium mine reserves. The important thing is that before aerial prospecting for uranium ores we were not too optimistic, but the new discoveries have made us confident about our reserves,” Salehi was quoted as saying by IRNA, a state news agency. Salehi was at the table next to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif when the JCPOA plan was drafted. World powers previously believed uranium ore was an Achilles’ Heel of Iran’s nuclear aspirations, since the country was considered as having very low reserves of the material and would need to import. Reuters on Saturday quoted a report by US think-tanks Carnegie Endowment and the Federation of American Scientists that said Iran was compelled “to rely on external sources of natural and processed uranium” because of the scarcity and low quality of its own uranium resources. “Despite the Iranian leadership’s assertions to the contrary, Iran’s estimated uranium endowments are nowhere near sufficient to supply its planned nuclear program,” according to the report. Salehi told IRNA on Saturday that by now, two-thirds of the country have been already covered in the search for uranium ore. He said that within four years, the search will have covered all of Iran. The new mine, Salehi said, is in the province of Yazd in central Iran. Sanctions on companies involved in the mining of uranium in Iran will be lifted as part of the historic and controversial nuclear deal. On Thursday, Iranian envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency Reza Najafi said that Tehran has not yet decided how to reduce its enriched uranium stockpile — which it must do under JCPOA.

Najafi said one option would be to export it to Russia or other countries. The other, he said, would be to convert it to non-enriched form. Najafi was speaking to reporters Thursday outside a meeting of the agency’s 35-nation board. Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report http://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-says-it-found-vast-quantities-of-uranium/ Return to Top

Press TV – Tehran, Iran Iran Hopes 'PMD' Resolved by End of 2015: Salehi Monday, September 14, 2015 The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says Tehran hopes the issue of the so-called Possible Military Dimensions (PMD) in Iran's nuclear program will be resolved by the end of the year, Press TV reports. “We have an agreement with the IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency) about the past and the present issues...[the] IAEA is pursuing what they should do and we have also done what we were supposed to do... [We hope] that the final report will come out by December 15th of this year and we hope that by then the issue will be closed," Ali Akbar Salehi told Press TV on the sidelines of the 59th Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna on Monday. He said Iran and the UN nuclear body "are both committed according to the agreement that we have signed," adding, "In that agreement that was signed by me and Mr. [Yukiya] Amano (the IAEA chief) in Vienna, the roadmap is clear as to what the IAEA should undertake, what measures they should undertake, and what measures we should undertake." Amano due in Iran Salehi announced that the IAEA chief will travel to Iran in a "few days" for "the follow-up of the agreement that we had in Vienna and we hope, we are doing our best to remove all kinds of obstacles that may be on the way to come to a conclusion by December 15." He also thanked Amano for refusing to release confidential information on the agency's arrangements with Iran despite all the pressure. "Mr. Amano himself has insisted about the confidentiality of the documents so I would like to put on record our thankfulness to him that despite all the pressure that has been put on him he has not disclosed anything in this regard so he has stayed committed to this and this really makes me, I mean it’s imperative upon me to thank him for that." Referring to his meeting with Kazakh Energy Minister Vladimir Sergeyevich Shkolnik, Salehi said the two talked about the recently established fuel bank in the Central Asian country. He added that "Iran could be a supplier of enrichment services to this fuel bank.” On Monday, Salehi, as well as attending the general conference, met the head of the Chinese delegation and participated in a trilateral meeting with the US and China. He also held a bilateral meeting with Amano. On July 14, Iran and the IAEA signed a roadmap for “the clarification of past and present issues” regarding Tehran’s nuclear program in the Austrian capital city of Vienna. The deal came on the same day Iran and the P5+1 - the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany - finalized the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna.

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The UN Security Council on July 20 unanimously endorsed a draft resolution turning the JCPOA into international law. All 15 members of the UN body voted for the draft resolution in New York, setting the stage for the lifting of the Security Council's nuclear-related sanctions against Iran. Under the JCPOA, limits will be put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all economic and financial bans against the Islamic Republic. http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2015/09/14/429200/Iran-JCPOA-Salehi-P51-IAEA Return to Top

Tasnim News Agency – Tehran, Iran IAEA Chief: Iran to Implement Additional Transparency Measures September 14, 2015 TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano said Iran’s additional transparency measures will help his agency get better understanding of the country’s nuclear program. Addressing the Fifty-Ninth Regular Session of IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria, on Monday, Amano briefed participants on his measures to undertake the verification and monitoring of Iran’s nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreed by Tehran and the E3/EU+3 countries (Russia, China, the US, France, Britain and Germany). “As stated in the JCPOA, Iran will implement the Additional Protocol. This will give the Agency greater access to information and to sites in Iran. Implementation of the Additional Protocol is an essential prerequisite for the Agency to be able to provide, in due course, credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran,” he said. “Iran has also agreed under the JCPOA to implement additional transparency measures, which will help the Agency to have a better understanding of Iran’s nuclear program.” The IAEA’s chief also said that the costs of the Agency’s work in monitoring and verifying Iran’s nuclear- related commitments under the JCPOA will need to be addressed “both through the Regular Budget and extrabudgetary contributions, in the coming years.” As regards a Road-map signed between Iran and the Agency for the clarification of past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear program by the end of this year, he stated, “As agreed in the Road- map, Iran provided the Agency with explanations in writing, and related documents, for the clarification of the outstanding issues. We reviewed this information and submitted our questions to Iran last week.” http://www.tasnimnews.com/english/Home/Single/859211 Return to Top

TASS Russian News Agency – Moscow, Russia Some Iranian Nuclear Program Control Measures May Be Cancelled in 2-3 Years — Source If Iran fulfills its obligations and the international community has confidence in Iran’s serious intention to fulfil them, then part of the excess mechanisms may be cancelled, a source says September 14, 2015 VIENNA, September 14. /TASS/. A number of redundant control measures over the Iranian nuclear program, envisaged by the agreement between Tehran and the six major powers (five permanent members of the UN Issue No.1183, 18 September 2015 United States Air Force Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies| Maxwell AFB, Alabama http://cpc.au.af.mil \ https://twitter.com/USAF_CUWS Phone: 334.953.7538 | Fax: 334.953.7226 USAF Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies CUWS Outreach Journal Maxwell AFB, Alabama

Security Council and Germany) may be cancelled in 2-3 years, a diplomatic source in one of the "sextet" delegations told TASS on Monday on the sidelines of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA). "If Iran fulfills its obligations and the international community has confidence in Iran’s serious intention to fulfil them, then part of the excess mechanisms may be cancelled," he said, adding that they are the control mechanisms that go beyond the requirements of the Additional Protocol to the IAEA Safeguards Agreement. According to the diplomat, the corresponding decision should be taken at the ministerial and approved by the Joint Commission [created as part of the agreement]. "There is a certain mechanism to check the agreement’s fulfilment, which provides for a ministerial meeting a couple of years," he added. Iran and the countries of the "sextet" reached an agreement upon a comprehensive joint action plan in Vienna on July 14. It aims to resolve all the issues around Iran’s nuclear programme, secure its peaceful nature and ensure lifting of all sanctions on Tehran. Under the agreement, Iran is committed to the execution of the Additional Protocol to the IAEA Safeguards Agreement, which regulates, among other things, inspectors’ access to facilities in Iran. In addition, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) spells out Iran’s voluntary measures. Tehran will allow the IAEA to monitor the implementation of the voluntary measures for their respective durations, as well as to implement transparency measures, as set out in this JCPOA and its Annexes. These measures include: a long-term IAEA presence in Iran; IAEA monitoring of uranium ore concentrate produced by Iran from all uranium ore concentrate plants for 25 years; containment and surveillance of centrifuge rotors and bellows for 20 years; use of IAEA approved and certified modern technologies including online enrichment measurement and electronic seals; and a reliable mechanism to ensure speedy resolution of IAEA access concerns for 15 years. http://tass.ru/en/world/820967 Return to Top

Russia Beyond the Headlines (RBTH) – Moscow, Russia Moscow Accused of Obstructing Syrian Chemical Weapons Dossier Russia has proposed extending the mandate of the UN mission on chemical weapons in Syria to Iraq, where it claims ISIS militants may be behind production. However, some media see this as Moscow diverting attention from the actions of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and delaying a resolution on chemical weapons in Syria. By Alexey Timofeychev, RBTH September 14, 2015 Some Western media are accusing Russia of delaying the establishment of a new UN body to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria, arguing that Moscow is trying to shift the focus of the investigation to what is happening in Iraq. Western countries have traditionally accused the Syrian authorities of using chemical weapons and see Russia’s attempts to hold up the process as an effort to shield Syria’s embattled president, Bashar al-Assad. Earlier, on Sept. 2, Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said that the Security Council might need to adopt a new resolution that would concern the investigation of the use of chemical weapons not only in Syria, but also in Iraq, in this case – by Islamic State (ISIS) militants. Churkin also said that Russia wanted clarifications of some aspects of how the international body, which is being established by the UN to assign blame for chemical attacks in Syria, will work. In early August, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on the need to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Later, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, sent a letter to Issue No.1183, 18 September 2015 United States Air Force Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies| Maxwell AFB, Alabama http://cpc.au.af.mil \ https://twitter.com/USAF_CUWS Phone: 334.953.7538 | Fax: 334.953.7226 USAF Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies

(CUWS) Outreach Journal members of the Security Council, in which he proposed the establishment with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of a joint investigation mechanism (JIM) for dealing with such crimes in Syria. It was assumed that the decision to establish this mechanism would be approved within five days. Russia's concerns Churkin said on Sept. 2 that the Russian Federation has questions about how the new body should operate, and Moscow has already addressed its concerns to the general secretary. According to the diplomat, Russia now wants Ban's clarifications to be put in writing and circulated to the members of the Security Council "so that everybody has the same kind of understanding" about the way the JIM will function. According to Sergei Demidenko, an analyst who specializes in the study of problems of the Middle East at the Institute of Strategic Studies and Analysis, a nongovernmental expert center, the accusations against Churkin and Russia look unfair. The analyst recalls that it was Russia that initiated two years ago a program to remove chemical weapons from Syria, which was supported by the United States. All the organizations that control this process, including the UN, said then that all chemical weapons had been removed from Syria, and the suspicions of the use of chemical weapons by Assad were not confirmed. "All these accusations [against Russia] should be considered in the context of the international situation that has now formed around Russia," said Demidenko. Fragile balance The analyst stresses that there is a very delicate balance inside Syria and around it. According to Demidenko, Churkin upholds the principle that "you should not greatly weaken the regime of Bashar al-Assad, otherwise he simply will be eaten." "If the actions of this [UN] body suppress only the actions of Bashar al-Assad, this balance may be disrupted," Demidenko told RBTH, emphasizing that Assad is accepted by Russia as the embodiment of "the struggle ... of a progressive Syria against dark forces advancing from Iraq.” At a press conference dedicated to the start of Russia's presidency of the UN Security Council, Churkin mentioned one of the reasons why Moscow had appealed for the UN Secretary General for clarifications on the new initiative regarding use of chemical weapons and defer the consideration of this issue for the time being. It was assumed that the new body should operate based on voluntary donations. Churkin wondered whether this would influence its impartiality and whether it would depend on who is funding it. At the same time, Churkin stressed that it would take no more than a few days to clarify the group’s principles of operation. Commenting on claims against Russia's steps on the initiative as voiced by Churkin, Yevgeny Satanovsky, director of the independent Institute of Middle East, called them "part of information warfare." Satanovsky drew attention to the question of the "origin of the chemical weapons used both on the territory of Iraq against the Kurds and in Syria." According to him, "this is clearly one source – laboratories in Iraq. They produce primitive but effective chemical weapons such as mustard gas." Clearly, Assad cannot control these particular laboratories. Russian experts were keen to emphasize that in the situation of chemical weapons, as is the case of other issues related to Syria, Moscow’s support for Assad is not an end in itself. The main goal is not to let Syrian statehood finally collapse and to prevent the situation descending into uncontrolled chaos. At the same time, some analysts point out that the position of the U.S., which alleges that the key to solving the problems of Syria is the departure of Assad, is not without reason.

Mehr News Agency – Tehran, Iran Zarif: Iran Welcomes China's Role in Redesigning Arak Reactor Tuesday, 15 September BEIJING, Sep. 15 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined China's role in Iran's nuclear deal with 5+1 and welcomed the country's constructive role in redesigning Arak research reactor . Zarif made the remarks during a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Tuesday in Beijing. Iranian minister underlined that China played a very positive role in nuclear negotiations. "I believe China would also keep its constructive role during the implementation of JCPOA". As for the adoption of JCPOA in the Congress, Zarif expressed regret that some groups in the US and the region, especially Israeli regime, seek their own interests to produce conflict and tension. "We hope that during the review process of JCPOA in US, they adapt to the realities and realize that the international community is not consistent with their policies since it seeks to resolve issues through diplomacy, negotiation and dialogue," Zarif underlined. Zarif urged the American and regional dissidents to the JCPOA to respect the international will to solve the global questions through peaceful solutions. Hailing China's role in the process of reaching a nuclear agreement, Zarif expressed hope illegal barriers would be removed to further deepen Iran-China ties. Chinese foreign minister, for his part, said Beijing and Tehran agreed to start talks within the framework of strategic cooperation. Iranian and Chinese economies are supplementary to each other, said Wang Yi adding his country is keen to deepen ties with Iran. He further called on all sides of the nuclear talks to be faithful to their commitments. China stresses importance of implementation of the JCPOA as soon as possible, he said. Beijing will be faithful to its political commitments, Wang Yi said, adding his country and Iran believe that fight with terrorism is a must. Heading an Iranian delegation, Zarif arrived in Beijing on Monday night. http://en.mehrnews.com/news/110126/Iran-welcomes-china-s-role-in-redesigning-Arak-reactor Return to Top

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FARS News Agency – Tehran, Iran Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Commander: IRGC Air Force Capable of Setting Fire to All Enemies' Interests TEHRAN (FNA) - Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Brigadier General Hossein Salami threatened the enemies that the IRGC Air Force can annihilate all their interests in case they make the slightest aggression against Iran. "We have reached a powerful defensive and deterrent power in a way that today the IRGC Air Force will set heavy fire to any point that it wants and the Navy also enjoys the capability to destroy the enemy," Salami said, addressing a gathering of the IRGC commanders and officials in Tehran on Tuesday. He also said that Commander of the IRGC Quds Force Major General Qassem Soleimani has managed to push the enemy's political and economic capacities towards demise. Salami underlined that Iran has also been able to defuse enemies' plots and policies in the region and stop their activities in distant regions by creating new fields. In relevant remarks in July, Salami played down the US officials' war rhetoric against Iran, warning that Washington knows its slightest hostile move would receive a crushing response. "Today the US knows that the slightest move against the Islamic Iran will ruin its house of dream," Brigadier General Salami said. He pointed to the US officials' catch phrase "all military option are still on the table" even after the Vienna nuclear agreement, and said, "The Americans have always resorted to bullying because they lack diplomatic skills… ." On May 7, Brigadier General Salami stressed that the country had prepared itself for the worst case scenario. "We have prepared ourselves for the most dangerous scenarios and this is no big deal and is simple to digest for US; we welcome war with the US as we do believe that it will be the scene for our success to display the real potentials of our power," Salami said in an interview with the state-run TV at the time. http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940624000617 Return to Top

FARS News Agency – Tehran, Iran Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Iran in Talks with Russia on Exchanging Enriched, Natural Uranium, Developing Centrifuges TEHRAN (FNA) - Tehran is holding talks with Moscow to sell its enriched uranium to Russia and take help from its Northern neighbor for enhancing its centrifuges. "Assistance to enhance the designing of our existing centrifuge machines in a way that they can produce stable isotopes is among the Russians' undertakings (based on the July 14 nuclear agreement between Tehran and the world powers) and they are among the most powerful and pioneering countries in the world in this field and they have announced their preparedness to cooperate and improve Iran's centrifuges to produce stable isotopes," Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said after meeting Russia’s Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation Director-General Sergey Kirienko in Vienna on Tuesday.

Tasnim News Agency – Tehran, Iran Iran-IAEA Arrangements on Parchin to Remain Confidential: Official September 16, 2015 TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian official stressed that the process of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the country’s Parchin military site is not going to be made public. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 59th Annual Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi said he could not provide details of cooperation with the UN nuclear agency on the issue of Parchin, a military site near Tehran where some Westerners claim nuclear tests may have taken place. “Arrangements have been made on Parchin, but given the fact that the subjects of our way of cooperation with the agency are to remain confidential between the two sides, I cannot provide any details,” Kamalvandi explained. Iran and the UN nuclear agency on July 14 signed a roadmap to resolve all the past and present outstanding issues related to Tehran’s nuclear energy program. A 12-strong delegation of the IAEA experts is now in Tehran as part of routine interaction under the July roadmap. IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano is also scheduled to visit Iran within the next few days. Issue No.1183, 18 September 2015 United States Air Force Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies| Maxwell AFB, Alabama http://cpc.au.af.mil \ https://twitter.com/USAF_CUWS Phone: 334.953.7538 | Fax: 334.953.7226 USAF Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies

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The IAEA has been given the role of verifying Iran’s commitments under a lasting nuclear deal reached between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) in July. http://www.tasnimnews.com/english/Home/Single/860587 Return to Top

Sputnik International – Russian Information Agency UN Sanctions Against Iran to Remain Until IAEA Affirms Nuclear Deal Applied UN sanctions against Iran will not be lifted until the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sends the report on the implementation of the nuclear deal to the UN, the organization's official claimed. 16 September 2015 UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — UN sanctions against Iran will remain in force until the report on the implementation of the nuclear deal, reached between Tehran and the P5+1 group of world powers, is received from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the chairman of the UN Security Council sanctions committee, Roman Marchesi, said Tuesday. At a meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Permanent Representative of Spain to the UN, Roman Marchesi, presented the report of the sanction's committee about complying with relevant Security Council resolutions. The report covers the period for the last three months, and is the first one after the historic agreement on the Iranian nuclear program was reached on July 14. "During the current transitional period, up until the Security Council's receipt of the IAEA report by which the IAEA confirms that Iran has taken a set of nuclear-related actions in accordance with resolution 2231 (2015), on the day known as "Implementation Day", I would like to stress that the measures [sanctions] imposed by the Security Council… remain in full effect," Marchesi said. Marchesi reminded that UN member states remain obliged to "duly implement" the sanctions in full effect. On July 14, 2015, Iran and the P5+1 group of international negotiators, including the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom plus Germany, reached a final agreement that will guarantee the peaceful nature of Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. "The Committee remains fully committed to the implementation of all relevant resolutions and stands ready to provide guidance to Member States that request assistance," Marchesi noted. On Monday, Iran has confirmed its readiness to observe the nuclear agreement with the six international negotiators and the roadmap signed between Tehran and the International IAEA. http://www.sputniknews.com/politics/20150916/1027054465.html Return to Top

Al Arabiya – Dubai, U.A.E. Experts Urge Release of IAEA Inspections Details of Iran Site By Reuters Friday, 18 September 2015 United Nations: Paris -- Several nuclear security experts are urging the United Nations nuclear watchdog and world powers to release details of how a sensitive Iranian military site will be inspected as part of a landmark nuclear deal reached in July.

The Hill – Washington, D.C. OPINION/Congress Blog September 12, 2015 Don’t Forget the Missiles By Douglas J. Feith and Rebeccah L. Heinrichs In its nuclear program, Iran has pursued two capabilities: the nuclear weapons themselves and the missiles to deliver the weapons. The debate about the new Iran deal has focused almost exclusively on the weapons. But the deal will enable Iran to build those missiles. The House Strategic Forces Subcommittee held a hearing earlier this week on the deal’s implications for missile defense and nonproliferation. The more Congress digs into the matter, the more disturbing it appears. One problem is that the deal will free Iran of economic sanctions even if Iran violates existing restrictions on its missile program. Another problem is that the deal, a few years down the road, will cancel those restrictions altogether. In other words, Iran is effectively getting a pass on its missile program.

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The missile issue has been something of an embarrassment for the Obama administration. In explaining why they refused even to ask Iran to end support for terrorism or to release American prisoners from Iranian prisons, administration officials explained that the deal had a specific, narrow focus on nuclear weapons. But at the last moment, Iran insisted on a provision to end restrictions on its missile program even though it was outside that focus. President Obama bowed to this demand. The deal will lift the UN-endorsed embargo against Iran’s missile program after eight years. Obama has defended this concession by arguing that the missile-related restrictions will be enforced rigorously for that eight-year period. But Iran’s leaders have contradicted him. They say publicly that Iran will be improving and expanding its missile force all along. The new U.N. Security Council Resolution based on the nuclear deal ensures that Iran can develop missiles without substantial penalty. Resolution 2231 has now superseded the resolutions that prohibited Iran from buying, testing, or developing missiles or missile technologies. Its language on missiles is watered down. First, it “calls on Iran” not to engage in domestic missile activity. This is a polite request that Iran can be expected to ignore. The resolution then says that Iran is prohibited from acquiring missiles from other states. This sounds tough, but it’s not. It lacks teeth because Iran will receive relief from economic sanctions regardless of whether it complies with this prohibition. Secretary of State John Kerry has clarified that the Iranians “are not in material breach of the nuclear agreement for violating the arms piece of it.” In other words, Iran can test, sell, improve, buy, and increase the quantity of its missiles and nonetheless receive scores of billions of dollars in sanctions relief. Indeed, it could use the very funds from sanctions relief to finance its missile work. As early as 2009, Obama administration officials sounded alarms about Iran’s missile force. The near-term threat of hundreds of Iranian missiles was cited to justify rapid fielding of short- and medium-range missile defense systems. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy told Congress, “In the near term, what this means is that the greatest missile threats from Iran will be to U.S. allies and partners, as well as to our deployed personnel, military and civilian, and their families in the Middle East and in Europe. And, needless to say, this concern is all the more urgent in light of Iran's continued uranium enrichment program.” Until late in the negotiations on the Iran nuclear deal, the Obama team acknowledged that missile restrictions should be preserved and tightened, not terminated. In February 2014, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman told senators, “So it is true that in these first six months we have not shut down all of their production of any ballistic missile that could have anything to do with delivery of a nuclear weapon, but that is, indeed, going to be part of something that has to be addressed as part of a comprehensive agreement.” In congressional testimony days before the Iran deal was finalized, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staffs General Martin E. Dempsey said, “Under no circumstances should we relieve pressure on Iran relative to ballistic missile capabilities and arms trafficking.” Supporters of the administration have said that, because the deal “handles” the nuclear problem, Iran’s missiles are no longer threatening. But the only practical purpose of the missiles is to deliver nuclear weapons. Obama himself has acknowledged concern that Iran may violate the nuclear deal. Hence his talk about the deal’s “snapback” provisions for punishing violations. There is nothing in the long history of arms control that justifies faith in an automatic punishment provision. In any event, one of the few serious ways to mitigate the risks of Iran’s violation of the deal is to limit Iran’s missile program. Even if the deal succeeds in delaying Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons, the Iranians will use the period of delay to improve their ability to deliver those weapons long-distance.

It is reckless to lift the missile restrictions, which should be viewed as insurance that would benefit us if Iran were to breach the nuclear deal. Congress is wise to focus on this problem, which has received too little attention in the public debate. Feith, a Hudson Institute senior fellow, served as undersecretary of Defense for Policy (2001-05). Heinrichs is a Hudson Institute adjunct fellow. http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/253433-dont-forget-the-missiles Return to Top

Australian Strategic Policy Institute – Canberra, Australia OPINION/The Strategist Nuclear Disarmament and Nuclear Order By Rod Lyon September 14, 2015 There’s an unfortunate truth about nuclear disarmament: it’s further away now than it was in 1995 when the NPT was indefinitely extended. NPT extension capped a number of positive milestones, not least the end of the Cold War. Things have soured over the past 20 years. They’ve even soured over the last six, so disarmament’s also further away now than it was in 2009, when President Obama spoke so warmly in Prague about the objective. And that suggests the tide’s going out on nuclear disarmament, not coming in. If so, should we be lowering our expectations in the arms control field to something a little more achievable, namely a safe, secure and resilient nuclear order? What determines whether a nuclear order’s resilient or not? We don’t have a large number of such orders to investigate empirically, so this post is intended to unpack four factors which I believe determine resiliency: geopolitical settings, technologies, actors and norms. Geopolitically, the world’s turbulent. Great power tensions are rising, not receding. They’re indisputably rising between the U.S. and Russia, but I think they’re also rising between the great powers of Asia. That might yet have implications for how nuclear weapons are seen in Asia: previously they’ve been seen primarily as a sub-regional problem (for Northeast Asia and South Asia). Moreover, there’s a worrying dynamism about conventional force relativities. Not too many years ago, it was a standard Western argument in favor of nuclear disarmament that the U.S. was preeminent at the conventional force level. Now that’s less certain, and the case for disarmament seems to have a stronger humanitarian flavor. And, finally, the Asian security system seems to be moving from a US-centred one towards a condition of loose balancing, which is making it more difficult for Washington to assure its partners and allies. In short, geopolitical turbulence seems to be driving a reprioritization of nuclear weapons and strategies. Technologically, nuclear arsenals are experiencing a wave of innovation. Especially in Asia, we’re seeing the emergence of MIRVed and MARVed ballistic missiles, and mobile and sea-launched missiles. Precision-strike conventional weapons and gradually improving ballistic missile defenses complicate the picture. There are opportunities for arms control in that technological space, not least because one innovation can sometimes be traded off for another, but a high technological churn factor—added to existing historical asymmetries—also makes broad agreements difficult. By contrast, the actors in the nuclear world are changing only slowly. There are more of them than you might think, though. If we’re looking for states whose security policies are entangled with nuclear weapons, that’s not just the nine nuclear weapon states. It also includes potentially ‘repentant’ states among the NPT signatories—like Iran—plus the nearly 40 states who benefit from extended nuclear assurance relationships with the U.S. Sub-state actors might eventually join that list, but—thankfully—haven’t so far. Still, the list of nuclear ‘actors’ is typically worrisome for two reasons: number and identity. In recent decades, we’ve seen the actual nuclear club become less exclusive, and that trend looks likely to continue. Issue No.1183, 18 September 2015 United States Air Force Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies| Maxwell AFB, Alabama http://cpc.au.af.mil \ https://twitter.com/USAF_CUWS Phone: 334.953.7538 | Fax: 334.953.7226 USAF Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies

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And, finally, I think nuclear norms are changing slowest of all. Those norms suggest that direct use of nuclear weapons should be an option of last resort, that nuclear weapons require special efforts to ensure their safety and security, and that possession of nuclear weapons is an abnormal rather than a normal feature of statehood (unlike passports and national airlines). All seem comparatively durable, bringing a degree of ballast to the nuclear order. So what’s the key challenge? It seems to me that the pace of strategic change and technological innovation are the two factors powering the Bunsen burner under the current nuclear order. The actors and norms are a little more settled—sources of ballast among the turbulence. True, a less settled strategic environment might well constitute an important driver towards nuclear proliferation, especially if US allies start to worry about the credibility of U.S. assurances in a less U.S.-centered world, so we can’t be complacent about actors. But if we’re aiming for a safe and secure nuclear order for the foreseeable future, we need to grapple principally with shifting strategic relativities and technological developments. The problem, of course, is that those factors aren’t easily tamed. We can and should work the problem of great-power relationships, both within Asia and beyond. And we might be able to add more transparency to force balances and technological innovation, but attempts to do so are scarcely novel. Finally, we need to revisit existing crisis stability arrangements, accepting that a riskier world lies before us and building structures and arrangements we can use when things go awry. None of those approaches will bring nuclear disarmament much closer, I’m afraid. But they just might help us navigate some turbulent waters. Rod Lyon is a fellow at ASPI and executive editor of The Strategist. http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/nuclear-disarmament-and-nuclear-order/ Return to Top

Defense News – Tysons Corner, VA OPINION/Commentary Iran’s Nuclear Ballistic Missile Threat Not on the Horizon By Greg Thielmann, senior fellow, Arms Control Association, Washington September 14, 2015 In the fall of 2012, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared at the United Nations, wielding a red pen on a cartoon drawing of a bomb to warn that Iran was on the brink of building a nuclear weapon. US experts agreed that Iran’s centrifuges and enriched uranium stockpiles would at that time enable Iran to accumulate sufficient fissile material for a bomb within months if it so chose. Iran already had a delivery vehicle for a nuclear warhead then in the form of two different types of medium- range missiles that could reach Israel. During the previous 12 months, Iran had conducted six flight tests of such missiles. The US intelligence community was concurrently assessing that Iran could test an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with much greater range by 2015. But it is now increasingly clear that Iran’s ballistic missile systems have not significantly advanced since then — an ICBM is nowhere in sight; and with the constraints on Iran’s nuclear program in the July 14 deal, the most worrisome ballistic missile threat from Iran has been defanged. In the fall of 2013, the United States, Great Britain, France, China, Russia, and Germany (the “P5+1”) had entered into intensive negotiations with the recently elected government of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Those negotiations soon led to an interim agreement that froze and in some cases rolled back Iran’s nuclear program and ultimately culminated in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on July 14, 2015. This comprehensive agreement, when implemented, will severely constrain Iran’s nuclear program and ensure that it is intensively monitored for many years. Issue No.1183, 18 September 2015 United States Air Force Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies| Maxwell AFB, Alabama http://cpc.au.af.mil \ https://twitter.com/USAF_CUWS Phone: 334.953.7538 | Fax: 334.953.7226 USAF Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies CUWS Outreach Journal Maxwell AFB, Alabama Because the JCPOA will prevent Iran from arming its ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads, Iran’s missile inventory looks far less formidable than it would have without the agreement. Iran’s ballistic missiles armed with conventional warheads are relatively inaccurate. They can inflict pain and suffering on civilians, as happened in the “War of the Cities” during the eight-year conflict between Iraq and Iran, but they are not a game-changer militarily, nor do they constitute an existential threat to any nation. But this is not the only reason that the timeline of Iran’s ballistic missile threat is moving outward. Iran’s ballistic missile program under Rouhani has focused on short-range systems. There has not been a single flight-test of a medium-range missile in three years. There has been no flight of the Simorgh space-launch vehicle, which was seen by some as a technological stalking horse for developing a longer-range military system. This inactivity has consequences for the readiness and reliability of existing systems and for research and development progress on new systems. While eventual introduction of longer-range Iranian ballistic missiles is a valid concern, the imminence of such a development has significantly receded from what it appeared to be in 2012. Even then, before the JCPOA was concluded and a new UN Security Council resolution adopted, nongovernmental missile experts had assessed that Iran was years away from being able to deploy an operational ICBM, casting doubt on the validity of 2015 as the date for Iran to emerge as an ICBM-wielding power. Now, the US government is finally catching up with this reality in its public characterizations of the Iranian ICBM threat. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in congressional testimony on July 29: “I wouldn’t rule out that in 10 years, Iran could progress to an ICBM.” Slipping the potential date for an ICBM threat from Iran by a decade is a much-needed dose of reality in the often breathless discussions of the subject on Capitol Hill. Yet even Carter’s acknowledgement does not fully reveal the speciousness of the imminent threat argument some politicians are making about Iranian ICBMs. Netanyahu and US Sen. Ted Cruz are among those who have asserted that Iran is building ICBMs that can threaten Los Angeles. Their political acumen may be impressive, but their understanding of rocket science and geography is not. The minimum range of ICBMs, 5,500 kilometers, was defined during the Cold War to correspond with the rough distance between the Soviet Union and the US mainland. The comparable distance between Iran and the United States is approximately 9,000 kilometers. So “not ruling out” an Iranian ICBM does not mean “ruling in” Iran’s ability to target the United States, even within 10 years. Moreover, for an Iranian ICBM to reach Los Angeles, it would have to travel 12,000 kilometers. To build a weapon to deliver a nuclear payload that far would mean Iran had created one of the world’s most powerful ICBMs — with a greater range than most strategic ballistic missiles in the US, Russian and Chinese arsenals. Whatever the cause of Iran’s actual inactivity in long-range ballistic missile development, the UN Security Council has now extended for up to eight years a proscription on Iranian nuclear-capable ballistic missile activity and trade. That the key missile technology supplier states are thus committed will be a major impediment to any acceleration of Iran’s medium- and longer-range missile programs. Spearheaded by persistent multilateral diplomacy and backed-up by US military and economic power, the international community is reining in Iran’s putative nuclear weapons program. Faithfully implementing the Iran nuclear deal and following closely the facts on the ground will ensure that the specter of Iranian nuclear missiles continues to fade below the horizon. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/commentary/2015/09/14/irans-nuclear-ballistic-missile- threat-not-horizon/72254428/ Return to Top

(CUWS) Outreach Journal

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists – Chicago, IL OPINION/Voices of Tomorrow A Realist Millennial’s View of Nuclear Weapons By Matthew R. Costlow 16 September 2015 The “problem” of nuclear weapons seems to be an intractable one. Since the dawn of the nuclear age more than 70 years ago, great thinkers in every generation have proposed various solutions for how to reduce nuclear dangers while increasing global security. Some have put their faith in technological solutions, such as “Atoms for Peace” or “social verification” of arms control treaties. Others place their hope in the social sciences, favoring such methods as the “rational actor model” to study the functioning of deterrence; or the physical sciences, whose practitioners promote theories such as neurodeterrence, which may help explain how individuals process information relating to deterrence. A member of the Millennial generation, Natalya Wallin, recently proposed using the seemingly boundless energy of her generation to focus on “creative problem-solving and innovating for the future” in order to solve the “problem” of nuclear weapons. As a fellow Millennial, however, I find such proposals to be a prime example of all that is wrong with much of my generation’s thinking on the issue of nuclear weapons. Demanding change is not a solution. Unfortunately, my generation is well known for “hashtag activism,” whereby sharing one’s thoughts about current events on social media has become a vacuous and cathartic activity. When my generation shares #BringBackOurGirls or #Kony2012, it makes us feel better because we are “raising awareness.” Yet here we are today: Most of the girls kidnapped by Boko Haram have not been brought back, and Joseph Kony apparently still roams free. Vague suggestions, like “Let’s get creative,” do not advance any solutions to problems like these. They merely add to the rhetoric. Worse still, many Millennials fail to acknowledge previous generations’ work, as if they had made no progress on the issues our generation inherits. Remember, it was previous generations who proposed and implemented highly successful diplomatic efforts that reduced Cold War tensions and stymied nuclear proliferation. Instead of bemoaning “old nuclear arsenals and mindsets,” my generation would do well to learn the lessons of the past, understand why certain nations increased or decreased their nuclear arsenals, and not be so quick to assume that newer ideas are inherently better. Lastly, my generation has a nasty habit of encountering a problem and insisting that we do something about it. If you press us for specifics, you only hear crickets. So when we are confronted with the problem of, say, nuclear crises, a Millennial response goes something like this: “If humanity is ever to be free from the threat of nuclear catastrophe, people need to stand up and demand further action on nuclear reductions from their representatives.” What specific actions would free humanity from the threat of nuclear catastrophe? Why were these actions not taken earlier? How would unilateral nuclear reductions enhance our security? Crickets. The messy reality. Allow me to suggest a radical new mindset for my generation as it confronts the issues of nuclear disarmament, Russian and Chinese aggression, and nuclear proliferation: extreme humility. Instead of “boldly” proclaiming the need to raise awareness, let’s utilize our generation’s greatest asset—access to data—and truly understand the issues before trying to solve anything. Instead of proposing “fresh ideas” for their own sake, let’s recognize that we are not the first generation to deal with these issues and probably will not be the last. Instead of studiously avoiding specifics or hard choices, let’s face a messy reality and not simplify an increasingly complex world to bumper-sticker activism. A generation of nuclear analysts influenced by extreme humility would acknowledge that we cannot know with 100 percent certainty how many nuclear weapons are needed to deter an enemy, despite recent assertions to the contrary. Such a generation would also recognize that simple formulas like “fewer nuclear

Issue No.1183, 18 September 2015 United States Air Force Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies| Maxwell AFB, Alabama http://cpc.au.af.mil \ https://twitter.com/USAF_CUWS Phone: 334.953.7538 | Fax: 334.953.7226 USAF Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies CUWS Outreach Journal Maxwell AFB, Alabama weapons equals fewer accidents” or “fewer nuclear weapons equals fewer crises,” though they may sound intuitive, do not match the historical record. Millennials, also called Generation Y (or Generation Why?), are known for questioning many of the fundamental assumptions of previous generations, but my generation needs to ask itself a few tough questions regarding its assumption that nuclear disarmament is always a good thing: Would further US nuclear reductions encourage our allies to consider beginning their own nuclear weapons programs in order to make up for perceived security shortfalls? Would further US nuclear reductions actually discourage the nuclear modernization programs in Russia and China? Would fewer nuclear weapons actually reduce the possibility of war or lead to fewer deaths should a nuclear war break out? Would deterrence really function in the same manner after an approximately 80 percent reduction in the number of nuclear weapons in the US arsenal? An unpredictable future. These questions are not scary rhetoric; instead they are problems with global implications that must be approached humbly and with great caution. Any actions the United States takes with regard to nuclear disarmament will almost certainly have worldwide repercussions, for good or ill. Indeed, one of the most important things this young generation of nuclear analysts can do is consider the unpredictability of the future, and the implications for the US nuclear arsenal. Blindly accepting the notion that fewer nuclear weapons equals a better world is neither new nor clever. Analysts do not and cannot know what enemies the United States may need to deter in the next 5, 10, or 15 years. Current US nuclear modernization plans include some systems operating into the 2080s, 65 years from now. Looking back 65 years ago and seeing all the political and technological changes that have occurred, are Millennials really so confident in our predictive abilities as to suggest we know nuclear disarmament is the best path to take? Is the United States willing to bet its very existence on the promises of disarmament? The stakes are simply too high and the risks too great to charge full speed ahead on the path of nuclear disarmament in this uncertain world. If Millennials want to make a difference for the better, we should humbly recognize the boundaries of what is knowable, view the world as it is, and propose specific solutions to match specific problems. Younger generations are prone to being wildly optimistic about what can and should be done while disdainful of past efforts, yet as the philosopher Aristotle taught, “Youth is easily deceived because it is quick to hope.” Let us not confuse what we wish, for what is prudent. Matthew R. Costlow is a policy analyst at the National Institute for Public Policy. His research focuses on nuclear deterrence and assurance, arms control, nonproliferation, Russian and Chinese defense strategy, and nuclear terrorism. http://thebulletin.org/realist-millennial%E2%80%99s-view-nuclear-weapons8747 Return to Top

ABOUT THE USAF CUWS The USAF Counterproliferation Center was established in 1998 at the direction of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Located at Maxwell AFB, this Center capitalizes on the resident expertise of Air University, while extending its reach far beyond - and influences a wide audience of leaders and policy makers. A memorandum of agreement between the Air Staff Director for Nuclear and Counterproliferation (then AF/XON), now AF/A5XP) and Air War College Commandant established the initial manpower and responsibilities of the Center. This included integrating counterproliferation awareness into the curriculum and ongoing research at the Air University; establishing an information repository to promote research on counterproliferation and nonproliferation issues; and directing research on the various topics associated with counterproliferation and nonproliferation .

(CUWS) Outreach Journal The Secretary of Defense's Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Management released a report in 2008 that recommended "Air Force personnel connected to the nuclear mission be required to take a professional military education (PME) course on national, defense, and Air Force concepts for deterrence and defense." As a result, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, in coordination with the AF/A10 and Air Force Global Strike Command, established a series of courses at Kirtland AFB to provide continuing education through the careers of those Air Force personnel working in or supporting the nuclear enterprise. This mission was transferred to the Counterproliferation Center in 2012, broadening its mandate to providing education and research to not just countering WMD but also nuclear deterrence. In February 2014, the Center’s name was changed to the Center for Unconventional Weapons Studies to reflect its broad coverage of unconventional weapons issues, both offensive and defensive, across the six joint operating concepts (deterrence operations, cooperative security, major combat operations, irregular warfare, stability operations, and homeland security). The term “unconventional weapons,” currently defined as nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, also includes the improvised use of chemical, biological, and radiological hazards. The CUWS's military insignia displays the symbols of nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards. The arrows above the hazards represent the four aspects of counterproliferation - counterforce, active defense, passive defense, and consequence management.