Top News U.S. government rejects call to disclose size of nuclear arsenal The Japan Times Russia warns of repeat of 1962 Cuban missile crisis Reuters Will Hypersonic Weapons Finally Push Us Toward AI-Powered Missile Defense? Forbes U.S. Nuclear Policy U.S. government rejects call to disclose size of nuclear arsenal The Japan Times6/24/2019 The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected a request from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) to disclose the number of nuclear warheads possessed by the country, according to the Washington-based think tank. Space in transition as DoD leaders depart in quick succession SpaceNews6/23/2019 Within the span of two days last week at the Pentagon, three top officials who played key roles in DoD space organization, policy and procurement stepped down from their posts. Meet The AIM-260, The Air Force and Navy’s Future Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile The Drive6/21/2019 Concerns about the improving capabilities of China’s air-to-air missiles pushed the services to quietly begin the program two years ago. Russia/FSU/Europe Russia warns of repeat of 1962 Cuban missile crisis Reuters6/24/2019 The U.S. deployment of land-based missile systems near Russia’s borders could lead to a stand-off comparable to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying on Monday. Washington’s mindset sliding back to ‘limited nuclear war’ says Russian Foreign Ministry TASS Russian News Agency6/22/2019 Statements by the US officials are clearly designed to justify expanding the Pentagon’s arsenal of nuclear weapons to support the projection of military force around the world,” the diplomat said. Kazakhstan ratifies treaty on prohibition of nuclear weapons AKIpress6/24/2019 The Senate of Kazakhstan at a plenary session today passed a law on ratification of a treaty on prohibition of nuclear weapons, Zakon.kz reports. South Asia Work begins on India’s next gen nuclear-powered submarines The Economic Times6/24/2019 Work has started on the Rs 1 lakh crore project to produce next generation nuclear-powered submarines for the Indian Navy, with a defence public sector unit working on a special alloy for the hull. A scale model is likely to be tested soon as part of the design process. Why India’s Hypersonic Missile Could Trigger A Nuclear War The National InterestMichael Peck 6/21/2019 India’s test of a hypersonic missile signifies more than the advance of Indian weapons technology. It also is one step closer to triggering a nuclear war with Pakistan. Opinion/Analysis/Commentary The Case Against Arms Control RealClearDefensePeter Pry 6/24/2019 Historically, U.S. modernization of its nuclear deterrent Triad—ICBMs, bombers, and missile submarines—has advanced hand-in-hand with arms control treaties. Of necessity, the Trump Administration is breaking this longstanding precedent. Only Congress Stands Between Saudi Arabia and Nuclear Weapons The National InterestVictor Gilinsky, Henry Sokolski 6/23/2019 Congress must act now in anticipation if it is to stop an arrangement that would allow Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to outfit himself with everything he needs for a bomb. Will Hypersonic Weapons Finally Push Us Toward AI-Powered Missile Defense? ForbesKalev Leetaru 6/21/2019 The rise of hypersonic weapons, with just minutes between launch and impact, may be the development that pushes countries to begin exploring automating their missile defense systems. Special Interest Book Synopsis and Author Spotlight: ‘Nuclear Proliferation and Terrorism in the Post-9/11 World,’ by David Hafemeister Federation of American ScientistsAllison Feldman 6/24/2019 FAS Visiting Scientist, Dr. David Hafemeister, has just released his new book, Nuclear Proliferation and Terrorism in the Post-9/11 World (Springer 2016), a unique textbook tailored for undergraduate courses on nuclear proliferation and nuclear weapon issues and policy.