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Suggested Citation: "1 INTRODUCTION." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Nuclear Proliferation and Arms Control Monitoring, Detection, and Verification: A National Security Priority: Summary of the Final Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26558.

1

INTRODUCTION

Congress tasked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) to undertake an independent review and assessment of the United States’ capabilities for monitoring, detection, and verification (MDV) of nuclear weapons and fissile material in the fiscal year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). See Box 1 for the full statement of task.

The study committee released an extensive interim report in April 2021 after an initial phase of data gathering. Following an additional data-gathering period that included examining restricted information unavailable to the committee during the initial phase of the project, the committee produced a final report in January 2023. In that report, the committee reassessed the findings and recommendations made in its interim report and found them to be supported and confirmed by the additional information. This document, the public summary of the final report, reproduces the findings and recommendations from the interim report and includes the committee’s commentary regarding many of the interim report findings and recommendations after additional data gathering. This commentary is shown in boxes following the interim report finding/recommendation. In addition, the committee offers a few new findings and recommendations, which are clearly indicated (“NEW” in front of the finding/recommendation indicates that the finding or recommendation is from the final report and does not appear in the interim report). The conclusion from the final report is also included. Finally, included as appendixes to this summary is an illustration of a notional interagency planning and coordination process and additional commentary regarding the data science process.

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BOX 1
Study Statement of Task

An ad hoc committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will review U.S. capabilities for detection, verification, and monitoring of nuclear weapons and fissile material and make recommendations for improving these capabilities.

Specifically, the review will assess and evaluate:

the current national research enterprise for detection, verification, and monitoring of nuclear weapons and fissile material.
the integration of roles, responsibilities, and planning for such detection, verification, and monitoring within the federal government.

And identify opportunities:

to leverage the national research enterprise to further prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and fissile material, including with respect to policy, research and development, and testing and evaluation.
for international engagement for building cooperation and transparency, including bilateral and multilateral efforts, to improve inspections, detection, and monitoring of nuclear weapons and fissile material, and to create incentives for such cooperation and transparency.
for new or expanded research and development efforts to improve detection and monitoring of, and in-field inspection and analysis capabilities with respect to, nuclear weapons and fissile material.
for improved coordination between departments and agencies of the federal government and the military departments, national laboratories, commercial industry, and academia.
for leveraging commercial capabilities.

The committee will provide a peer-reviewed assessment containing findings and recommendations, a restricted, peer-reviewed assessment containing findings and recommendations, and a public summary of the restricted report.

Nuclear Proliferation and Arms Control Monitoring, Detection, and Verification: A National Security Priority: Summary of the Final Report (2023)

Chapter: 1 INTRODUCTION

1

INTRODUCTION

My Academies

Nuclear Proliferation and Arms Control Monitoring, Detection, and Verification: A National Security Priority: Summary of the Final Report (2023)

Chapter: 1 INTRODUCTION

1 INTRODUCTION

1

INTRODUCTION