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June 17, 2019 | International, Other Defence

Here’s how many nuclear warheads exist, and which countries own them

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WASHINGTON — The number of warheads has decreased over the past year, even as countries continue to modernize their nuclear forces, according to an annual assessment of global nuclear arms.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released the SIPRI Yearbook 2019 on the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security.

The report found that 13,865 warheads in existence at the start of 2019 were owned by nine nations: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea.

The year before hosted an arsenal of 14,465 warheads.

“A key finding is that despite an overall decrease in the number of nuclear warheads in 2018, all nuclear weapon-possessing states continue to modernize their nuclear arsenals,” Jan Eliasson, SIPRI Governing Board chair ambassador and former deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, said in a news release.

The U.S. and Russia were the only nations that decreased their warhead inventory, by 265 and 350 respectively, according to the report.

The U.K., China, Pakistan, North Korea and possibly Israel all increased their number of warheads, SIPRI found. India and France saw no changes to the size of their arsenals.

One big cause of the decrease in arsenal size, according to SIPRI, is the implementation of the New START Treaty between the U.S. and Russia, meant to reduce and set limits on ballistic missiles. The two nations produce more than 90 percent of the world's nuclear arms.

The U.S. and Russia announced in 2018 that they had met the limits of the New START Treaty. But if an extension is not implemented, the treaty will expire in 2021.

What's the United States up to?

The U.S. is in the process of modernizing its nuclear arsenal per the Trump administration 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, which put forth measures to continue a modernization program started by the Obama administration. However, the NPR moves away from reducing nuclear weapons and instead sets a plan to develop new versions while and modifying others.

The U.S. hopes to achieve its goals by expanding nuclear options to include low-yield nuclear weapons, which will expand capabilities associated with submarine-launched ballistic missiles. This would add to a U.S. arsenal that already contains 1,000 gravity bombs and air-launched cruise missiles with low-yield warhead options, according to the SIPRI report.

The NPR claims these new capabilities are necessary without evidence that the existing arsenal is insufficient.

The SIPRI report notes that America's focus on its nonstrategic nuclear arsenal could push other nations in that same direction.

Where does Russia stand?

“Russia's decisions about the size and composition of its non-strategic nuclear arsenal appear to be driven by the USA's superiority in conventional forces and not by the US non-strategic nuclear arsenal or by weapons yield," according to the SIPRI report.

"Instead, pursuit of a new [submarine-launched cruise missile] to ‘provide a needed non-strategic regional presence' in Europe and Asia could — especially when combined with the parallel expansion of US long-range conventional strike capabilities — strengthen Russia's reliance on non-strategic nuclear weapons and potentially could even trigger Chinese interest in developing such a capability,” the report adds.

SIPRI data shows Russia has about 4,330 nuclear warheads; approximately 1,830 of them are categorized as nonstrategic.

In 2018, Russia continued long-range operations over the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans. And in December, it also sent to Venezuela two Tu-160 planes, which are part of its long-range aviation command fleet.

Russia also fired air-launched cruise missiles from a Tu-160 bomber over northern Russia in November, which caught attention because the number of cruise missiles launched.

Meanwhile, in China, India and Pakistan ...

China has an estimated 290 nuclear warheads. Though China is working to expand its nuclear forces, the report notes, it has said it's committed to a no-first-use policy. However, the report added that China has taken steps to improve its retaliation response.

Rivals India and Pakistan each provide little information about the size of their nuclear arsenals. However, they have made separate statements about missile tests. India has an estimated 130-140 warheads, and Pakistan has an estimated 150-160 warheads.

Both nations are estimated to have increased their arsenal by 10 to 20 warheads in the last year.

North Korea has provided little transparency about it nuclear weapons capabilities, besides announcing missile tests afterward. It's estimated the country has 20-30 warheads, which would be an increase of 10-20 warheads from a 2018 estimate.

The SIPRI report cites a lack of transparency from most nations in regard to nuclear stockpiles.

The U.S., the U.K. and France have disclosed some information about their respective arsenals. Information from other nations is mainly based on missile tests and the supply of military fissile materials.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/2019/06/16/heres-how-many-nuclear-warheads-exist-and-which-countries-own-them/

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - August 07, 2020

    August 10, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - August 07, 2020

    AIR FORCE United Launch Services LLC, Centennial, Colorado, has been awarded task orders for $337,000,000 for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 contract. The NSSL Phase 2 contract is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract for launch service procurements supporting launches planned between fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2027. This launch service contract includes early integration studies, launch service support, fleet surveillance, launch vehicle production, mission integration, mission launch operations, mission assurance, spaceflight worthiness, and mission unique activities for each mission. Work will be performed in Centennial, Colorado; Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida; and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be completed March 2028. Future launch services and launch service support will be placed annually on subsequent task orders, and will be publically announced upon issuance. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and four offers were received. Fiscal 2020 space procurement funds in the amount of $337,000,000 will be obligated in the first order year for launch service and launch service support task orders to United Launch Services. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8811-20-D-0001). Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded task orders for $316,000,000 for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 contract. The NSSL Phase 2 contract is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract for launch service procurements supporting launches planned between fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2027. This launch service contract includes early integration studies, launch service support, fleet surveillance, launch vehicle production, mission integration, mission launch operations, mission assurance, spaceflight worthiness, and mission unique activities for each mission. Work will be performed in Hawthorne, California; Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida; and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be completed March 2028. Future launch services and launch service support will be placed annually on subsequent task orders, and will be publically announced upon issuance. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and four offers were received. Fiscal 2020 space procurement funds in the amount of $316,000,000 will be obligated in the first order year for launch service and launch service support task orders to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA2211-20-D-0002). BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Greenlawn, New York, has been awarded an estimated $144,000,000 five-year firm-fixed-price requirements contract for common avionics and electronic components applicable to B1-B, ASQ-151, APX-113, ALQ-172, USM-464, AN/ALQ-155, ALQ-161, USM-638, B-52 platforms. This contract provides for sustainment of spares/buys, repairs and engineering services related to various systems and components that are sole source to BAE. Work will be performed in Greenlawn, New York; San Diego, California; and Nashua, New Hampshire, and is expected to be completed March 22, 2026. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 Consolidated Sustainment Activity Group funds will be used, but no funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8538-20-D-0008). J G Contracting, Nipomo, California, has been awarded a $55,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for simplified acquisition of base engineering requirements. The contract provides all management, labor, material, equipment, transportation, supervision and minimal designs to accomplish numerous, concurrent projects for a broad range of maintenance, repair and minor construction work. Work will be performed at Edwards Air Force Base, California; and Air Force owned/operated facilities located at Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, and is expected to be completed July 31, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 12 offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $142,743 are being obligated at the time of award. The Directorate of Contracting, Edwards AFB, California, is the contracting activity (FA9301-20-D-0004). Apogee Research LLC,* Arlington, Virginia, has been awarded a $41,663,526 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00001) to contract FA8750-20-C-1510 for deliverables that include software and technical reports. The contract modification is for the development and testing of technologies to enable the transition of system technology integration tool chain for heterogeneous electronic systems. This will allow capabilities to rapidly integrate into new mission capabilities for interoperability within and across Department of Defense platforms. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia; Menlo Park, California; Woburn, Massachusetts; and Malden, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed July 31, 2025. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $489,650 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $48,250,998. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded a $21,948,817 cost-plus-award-fee task order under the ground subsystems sustainment contract for the Minuteman III Fast Rising B-Plug service life extension. Work will be performed in Layton, Utah, and is expected to be completed Nov. 17, 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,356,951 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8204-20-F-0077). NAVY BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair LLC, Jacksonville, Florida, is awarded an $83,501,649 firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of USS Carney (DDG 64) fiscal 2020 extended dry-docking selected restricted availability and the USS Winston Churchill (DDG 81) fiscal 2021 depot modernization period. These availabilities will include a combination of maintenance, modernization and repair for both the USS Carney and USS Winston Churchill. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $211,604,822. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy); and other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $83,501,649 are obligated at time of award, $66,389,135 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Work will be performed in both Jacksonville, Florida, and is expected to be complete by July 2022. This contract was competitively solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website with one offer received in response to Solicitation No. N00024-19-R-4468. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $77,400,000 undefinitized contract modification (P00041) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00019-17-C-0001. This modification provides for the development and installation of flight test instrumentation on one F-35B Lot 14 aircraft and one F-35C Lot 14 aircraft for government testing in support of the F-35 program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (65%); Palmdale, California (32%); Grenaa, Denmark (2%); and Hoogerheide, Netherlands (1%), and is expected to be completed in June 2023. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $23,255,516; and non-Department of Defense funds in the amount of $6,088,968 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Black Construction-Tutor Perini JV, Barrigada, Guam, is being awarded firm-fixed-price task order N62742-20-F-9924 at $44,093,863 under a multiple award construction contract for design and construction of explosive ordnance compound facilities at Naval Base Guam. The work to be performed provides for the design and construction of a consolidated operations facility, maintenance facility, armory and multipurpose/training facility. The options, if exercised, provide for a civil engineering support equipment canopy, a service craft and boat accounting report canopy, electronic security systems, audiovisual equipment, furniture fixtures and equipment, munitions and explosives of concern and material potentially presenting an explosive hazard work and additional concrete piles. The task order also contains eight unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase cumulative task order value to $50,937,800. Work will be performed in Apra Harbor, Guam, and is expected to be completed by December 2022. Fiscal 2020 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $44,093,863 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-19-D-1328). PrimeTech International Inc.,* North Kansas City, Missouri, is being awarded a $19,185,938 firm-fixed-price, time-and-materials bridge contract for a six-month base period with three one-month option periods for logistics services to manage, support and operate the Marine Corps Consolidated Storage Program warehouse network. Work will be performed in Barstow, California (23%); Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (18%); Camp Pendleton, California (13%); Okinawa, Japan (10%); Miramar, California (9%); Camp Geiger, North Carolina (7%); Twenty-nine Palms, California (4%); Cherry Point, North Carolina (4%); Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii (3%); Yuma, Arizona (2%); Beaufort, South Carolina (2%); Iwakuni, Japan (2%); New River, North Carolina (2%); and Bridgeport, California (1%). Work is expected to be completed June 2021. Fiscal 2020 overseas contingency operations funds in the amount of $12,623,942; and operations and maintenance funds (Marine Corps) in the amount of $161,657.82 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will be made available for each option period which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1); only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Marine Corps Logistics Command, Albany, Georgia, is the contracting activity (M67004-20-P-2004). Pole/Zero Acquisition Inc., West Chester, Ohio, was awarded an $8,858,994 modification (P00005) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N68335-18-D-0050. 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(Awarded July 27, 2020) DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY Ernst & Young LLP, New York, New York (HT0011-16-F-0014), was awarded a fourth year option to a five year contract (one-year base and four option periods) with an estimated value of $61,223,977 to support the Defense Health Agency (DHA) with a period of performance from Aug. 8, 2020, through Aug. 7, 2021. This non-personal services contract provides audit readiness support. The contractor provides all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items necessary to perform audit readiness support. The Financial Operations Directorate (J-8), Defense Health Program Financial Reporting & Compliance Division has a continuing need for the services. Exercising the fourth option is the most advantageous method of fulfilling the government's need with regards to price efficiency, past performance and experience. Ernst & Young's performance is satisfactory and fulfills the contract's needs. 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Work will be performed in Farmingdale, New York, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 2, 2021. Fiscal 2020 public health and social services emergency funds in the amount of $48,310,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911SR-20-C-0045). (Awarded Aug. 3, 2020) Bates Engineers/Contractors Inc.,* Bainbridge, Georgia, was awarded a $46,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for rehabilitation/modernization of buildings, new building construction, demolition, paving, grading, drainage, excavation, clearing and grubbing, utility work of all types, environmental permitting related to construction, incidental design related to construction efforts, site safety and health efforts and field investigations related to construction projects for the North Alabama Area Office Region. Bids were solicited via the internet with 23 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 6, 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-20-D-0072). Pacific Federal Contractors LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, was awarded a $20,402,508 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a single 61,800 square-foot hangar bay addition at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, with an estimated completion date of March 6, 2022. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Air Force) funds in the amount of $20,402,508 were obligated at the time of the award. National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W912J6-20-C-0001). Cardinal Health Inc., Dublin, Ohio, was awarded a $14,826,870 firm-fixed-price contract for safety needles/syringes in support of the COVID-19 pandemic response and Operation Warp Speed. Bids were solicited via the internet with 16 received. Work will be performed in Dublin, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 3, 2021. Fiscal 2020 public health and social services emergency funds in the amount of $14,826,870 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911SR-20-C-0044). (Awarded Aug. 4, 2020) J. F. Brennan Company Inc.,* La Crosse, Wisconsin, was awarded a $13,617,770 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging of Duluth-Superior Harbor. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Superior, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 22, 2022. Fiscal 2020 civil construction funds in the amount of $13,617,770 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W911XK-20-C-0017). Gold Coast Medical Supply L.P.,* Camarillo, California, was awarded a $13,575,307 firm-fixed-price contract for safety needles/syringes in support of the COVID-19 pandemic response and Operation Warp Speed. Bids were solicited via the internet with 16 received. Work will be performed in Camarillo, California, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 2, 2021. Fiscal 2020 public health and social services emergency funds in the amount of $13,575,307 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911SR-20-C-0047). (Awarded Aug. 3, 2020) HTL-Strefa Inc.,* Marietta, Georgia, was awarded a $12,330,000 firm-fixed-price contract for safety needles/syringes in support of the COVID-19 pandemic response and Operation Warp Speed. Bids were solicited via the internet with 16 received. Work will be performed in Marietta, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 2, 2021. 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(Awarded Aug. 3, 2020) CORRECTION: The 50,998,450 firm-fixed-price contract announced on July 31, 2020, to Duke Energy Progress LLC, Raleigh, North Carolina (W9124J-20-F-0052), to furnish financing, personnel, management, supplies, equipment, transportation and any other items and services not government furnished to install the energy conservation measures to meet Fort Bragg's energy goals and objectives, was actually awarded on Aug. 6, 2020. U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND Airbus DS Military Aircraft Inc., Mobile, Alabama, was awarded a $10,000,000 maximum ceiling firm-fixed-price contract (H92241-20-C-0005) in support of U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command for the sustainment and modernization of five CASA 212-200 CC60 aircraft with new avionics suites and aircraft maintenance refreshes. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,759,134 are being obligated at the time of award. The majority of the work will be performed in Mobile, Alabama, and is expected to be completed by August 2023. This contract is a non-competitive award and is in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302.1. U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Florida, is the contracting activity. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2305454/source/GovDelivery/

  • 'Affordable' hypersonics, small business and sustainment lead DoD tech chief's priorities

    October 13, 2021 | International, Aerospace

    'Affordable' hypersonics, small business and sustainment lead DoD tech chief's priorities

    The new undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, Heidi Shyu, laid out some of her top priorities for the Pentagon in its innovation race with China at the Association of the U.S. Army's annual meeting on Tuesday.

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