Media reports US planning on testing aging plutonium in its nuclear arsenal
(MENAFN) The United States is set to conduct a "subcritical" nuclear test in the spring, aiming to evaluate the condition of plutonium used in its nuclear weapons, which has been aging for decades. According to National Public radio (NPR), the test, known as "Nob Hill," will take place at the PULSE facility in Nevada as part of a highly classified U.S. project called Cygnus.
This subcritical experiment will not involve enough fissile material to trigger a nuclear explosion but will help assess the degradation of plutonium over time. The U.S. government insists that the test does not violate the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans nuclear test explosions, although the U.S. and Russia signed but did not ratify the treaty.
The aging of plutonium in nuclear weapons raises concerns as radioactive decay can weaken the metal, potentially affecting the performance of weapons. This test is part of broader efforts to modernize U.S. nuclear stockpiles. As nuclear weapons testing gains attention globally, experts are warning about the increased risks, particularly with nations like Russia, which has recently downgraded its commitment to the CTBT and hinted at resuming nuclear testing in response to U.S. actions.
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