WASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence studies on Russia’s growth of a space-based nuclear weapon have been a key level of dialogue at a congressional listening to Could 1. Assistant Secretary of Protection for House Coverage John Plumb confronted questioning from lawmakers concerning the weapon’s capabilities and potential influence.
At a listening to of the Home Armed Providers Committee’s strategic forces subcommittee, Plumb stated the administration stays extremely involved about studies that Russia is creating an anti-satellite functionality that might be a nuclear system. And he careworn the necessity for additional modeling and research to grasp the weapon’s potential influence in orbit.
Most of the questions have been raised by Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) who chairs the Home Everlasting Choose Committee on Intelligence. The information that Russia could be creating a space-based nuclear weapon got here to mild in February after Turner warned a couple of potential menace and urged the Biden administration to reveal particulars concerning the alleged weapon.
The White Home stated that, whereas regarding, this functionality is reportedly nonetheless underneath growth and never prepared for quick deployment. The administration famous that deployment would violate the 1967 Outer House Treaty’s ban on nuclear weapons in Earth’s orbit.
Turner pressed Plumb to offer particulars on what kind of weapon Russia is creating and the place in area it could be deployed.
Plumb declined to elaborate on the weapon’s launch readiness, suggesting these particulars be addressed in a labeled session.
‘Menace to all satellites’
Based on Plumb’s assertion to the committee learn by Turner, “This functionality might pose a menace to all satellites operated by nations and firms across the globe, in addition to to the very important communications, scientific, meteorological, agricultural, business, and nationwide safety providers all of us rely on.”
Upon additional questioning by Turner, Plumb instructed that if detonated, a nuclear, anti-satellite weapon might render low Earth orbit unusable for a very long time, maybe a yr.
“It’s not an imminent menace in a means that we should always have to fret about proper now,” Plumb stated. “However we’re involved about it, the division and all the administration and I do know this Congress is taking this lethal significantly.”
Plumb criticized Russia’s current veto of a United Nations Safety Council decision that reaffirmed provisions within the Outer House Treaty prohibiting the position of nuclear weapons or different weapons of mass destruction in area.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied Russia plans to deploy nuclear weapons in area however Plumb stated the UN veto suggests in any other case. “We simply had a United Nations Safety Council decision that Russia vetoed, which can the truth is tip their hand on this,” he stated.
Plumb stated modeling and simulations are wanted “to know the specifics of how this factor could be used, what kind of detonation it could be, the place it could be detonated and the way that modifications the result.”
The devastation could be felt in low Earth orbit the place most satellites aren’t hardened towards nuclear radiation and could be rendered unusable “for some time frame … It might be a yr,” stated Plumb.
Estimates of the influence of a nuclear detonation are based mostly on what unfolded after the U.S. in 1962 carried out a high-altitude nuclear check referred to as Starfish Prime which elevated the charged-particle radiation in near-Earth area to values simply 10 million occasions the pure radiation degree.
“The truth that Russia vetoed the decision reaffirming a dedication they’ve already made is regarding,” Plumb stated.
