Analysis / Commentary, Next Gen CommunityTechnology Based Sanctions and North Korea’s Missile ProgramByDaniel Salisbury and CSIS PONIPublished May 19, 2017It may seem clear that – at the very least – technology-based sanctions slow technical progress and raise procurement costs. However, other research suggests that sanctions have improved North Korea’s ability to procure WMD-related goods.
Analysis / Commentary, Next Gen CommunityThe Future of Submarine Second Strike and the Balance of StabilityByIsaac Jenkins and CSIS PONIPublished May 7, 2017SSBNs are proliferating, they are getting quieter, and methods for detecting SSBNs are improving. These three trends set the nuclear powers up for a competition that may diminish the stabilizing role SSBNs have historically played.
Analysis / Commentary, Next Gen CommunityThe Strategic Importance of Nuclear EnergyByJeffrey Graham and CSIS PONIPublished May 3, 2017A national policy in support of nuclear energy development is necessary to change this trend: as the Nuclear Energy Institute observes, public-private partnerships are critical for success on the scales that matter.
Analysis / Commentary, Next Gen CommunityNuclear Weapons and Capabilities in the Indian Ocean: An Indian PerspectiveBySylvia Mishra and CSIS PONIPublished Apr 18, 2017At a time of a qualitative reordering of the Asia-Pacific, stability in the Indian Ocean region hinges on collaborative efforts by India and the United States to keep the seas open and peaceful.
Analysis / Commentary, Next Gen CommunityEngineering and PolicyByAlex Stevenson and CSIS PONIPublished Jun 23, 2016Sensible policy aspirations must balance aspirational visions of the future with a clear understanding of the cost and value of the nuclear weapons engineering enterprise.
Analysis / Commentary, Next Gen CommunityThe Importance of Intrinsic Motivators for Missile Combat CrewsByThomas Keim and CSIS PONIPublished May 17, 2016In early 2014, the ICBM community was rocked by a cheating scandal that has profoundly affected the way they train. In response to the scandal, Air Force Global Strike Command initiated the Force Improvement Program to improve training, evaluation, and morale in the nuclear community.
Analysis / Commentary, Next Gen CommunityRad Science: Increasing knowledge without increasing fearByJordan Arnswald and CSIS PONIPublished Apr 25, 2016Having a better understanding of threats and knowing what to do in emergency situations allows people to make safer decisoins and makes them less likely to panic. Experts in the radiological emergency response field and agencies prepare to respond to radiological emergencies, but widespread and general knowledge on the topic could be improved.
Analysis / Commentary, Next Gen CommunityNASA, the Navy and Nukes: Solid Rocket Fuel and the Future of the Trident MissileByLindsay Miller and CSIS PONIPublished Jun 24, 2014Because both the space shuttles and the U.S. Trident D5 SLBMs rely on solid propellant fuels, NASA’s decisions about its space programs have repercussions in the defense industry. In 2017, NASA plans to launch the first mission of the new Space Launch System (SLS). In 2016, NASA will decide how exactly the SLS will be propelled.