The US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has a central role in addressing the threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Their Research and Development Enterprise [PDF] is especially wide-ranging, covering everything from protective gear, to predictive and decision-support algorithms, to ScanEagle UAV variants that can monitor WMD levels, to co-operative non-proliferation programs, to development of new weapons like the Massive Ordnance Penetrator. Some of this work has even led to commercial spinoffs, vid. Sanofi Pasteur’s acquisition of VaxDesign and its DARPA/DTRA-financed MIMC model: an in vitro tool capable of predicting human immune response to specific bio-threat agents.
Through the Co-operative Threat Reduction program, the Department of Defense provides equipment, services, and technical advice to Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine to assist them in eliminating (or in the case of Russia, reducing) the weapons of mass destruction remaining from the Soviet era, and preventing proliferation. That means dismantling the associated infrastructure, or transforming portions of it to engage in peaceful civilian activities.
The U.S. objectives in the CTR program as established by Congress are to cooperate with the Newly Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union to:
The US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has undertaken an R&D effort to provide an integrated approach to combating weapons of mass destruction (WMD) known as the Research and Development Enterprise [PDF]. Their efforts are aimed at improving situational awareness about the WMD threat, controlling WMD materials and systems worldwide, reducing the threat to US troops, protecting the homeland, transforming the US nuclear deterrent, and controlling the threat of loose nuclear weapons in the world.
As part of this effort, DTRA awarded a contract April 18/11 worth up to $600 million to TASC in Chantilly, VA to provide advisory services to the agency’s effort in this area…
US heavily reliant on China for supply of rare earth metals used in high-tech weapons such as radar, night vision devices, and smart bombs, GAO warns. GAO report [pdf] | Bloomberg | TechNewsDaily
Foreign Policy magazine: “Time Is Of the Essence” to secure nuclear fissile materials around the world from terrorists. Meanwhile, Tehran’s own conference on nuclear proliferation isn’t reassuring many people.
Feb 10: RF notes Tory shadow minister’s comment that Britain must be capable of acting unilaterally. Today: read Liam Fox’s full speech to the RUSI re: Britain’s coming defense review and challenges.
BAE Systems received a contract worth up to $20 million to support the US Air Force global monitoring for nuclear treaty compliance. The company will provide engineering, research, and program management services for the Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida.
AFTAC operates and maintains a global network of nuclear explosion detection sensors called the US Atomic Energy Detection System (USAEDS). Once the USAEDS senses a disturbance underground, underwater, in the atmosphere or in space, the event is analyzed for nuclear identification and findings are reported to national command authorities through USAF headquarters.
AFTAC monitors compliance with the following nuclear testing treaties:
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency at Fort Belvoir, VA leads US Department of Defense efforts to stop the global spread, transfer, and usage of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons of mass destruction.
Recently, they issued a $6.1 million contract to Dyncorp’s CSC Systems & Solutions, Inc. subsidiary in Alexandria, VA, to support the “International Counter Proliferation Program.” Work will be performed at Fort Belvoir, VA, and is expected to be complete by Aug 27/08. One bid was solicited on Jan 2/08, and 1 bid was received (DTRA01-02-D-0064).
On December 27, 2005, the US State Department declared that it was imposing sanctions on 9 companies (6 in China, 2 in India, and 1 in Austria) on the basis of credible information that the companies had transferred equipment or technology in violation of the Iran Nonproliferation Act (Public Law 106-178). A citation means that companies have sold materials to Iran that are included in international export control lists, or can be used in the production of missiles and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The sanctioned firms are:
Northrop Grumman IT has been awarded a indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract with a potential value of approximately $375 million over four years, in order to provide a range of scientific and technical advisory and assistance services to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA, also known by some as Nunn-Lugar) that will support DTRA’s mission to reduce the threat from weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Schaefer Corp. in Chelmsford, MA received a $6 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide for particle analysis services and non-personal services for the processing and analyzing of particle samples. These services will be used in support of the United States Atomic Energy Detection System for nuclear test ban treaty verification, on behalf of the Air Force Technical Applications Center. Work will be performed at Schafer Vallecitos Laboratory in Sunol, CA. Solicitations began in June 2005 and one proposal was received. Negotiations were completed in August 2005, and work will be complete by September 2006. The 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, FL issued the contract (FA2521-05-C-8009)
