In last week's update we reported on Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman's warning to an annual NATO arms-control conference in Washington that the U.S. and its allies must remain alert for signs that Vladimir Putin could use a tactical nuclear weapon in a "managed" escalation of his war in Ukraine.
In a sign of how much concern there is of this scenario becoming a reality, it was revealed this week during Senate Armed Services Committee hearings that the U.S. has deployed a network of sensors across Ukraine and the region to monitor for any use of nuclear or radiological weapons, as well as to train partners on aerial radiological measuring, atmospheric plume modeling, medical management of radiation injuries, as well as radiological materials search, recovery, and identification.
Responding to a followup inquiry by the New York Times, the National Nuclear Security Administration, a federal agency under the Department of Energy, said the network of sensors would have the ability “to characterize the size, location and effects of any nuclear explosion.” Additionally, it said the deployed sensors would deny Russia “any opportunity to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine without attribution.” A simple example of such a scenario could be a nuclear weapon clandestinely delivered in the back of a truck as part of a false flag operation.
Readers are reminded that on March 25th, AlertsUSA subscribers were notified of an announcement by Vladimir Putin that as a result of Finland joining the NATO alliance, Russia would adjust their posture with tactical nuclear weapons being deployed to and stationed within neighboring Belarus.
An analysis published this week by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists suggests that Lida Air Base in NW Belarus, located only 40 kilometers from the Lithuanian border and the only Belarusian Air Force wing equipped with Su-25 aircraft, is the most likely basing location for the “nuclear sharing” mission.
There is speculation that the sharing model Russia will employ will be similar to that used by the U.S. and NATO partners. At present, there are an estimated 100 U.S. nuclear weapons stationed at six bases in five NATO countries. While partner military forces modify aircraft for accommodation of these weapons and train annually alongside U.S. forces in their use, the bombs remain under U.S. control at all times. If Moscow were to follow the same model, this could mean Russia maintaining a permanent military presence on Belarusian soil.
The strategic nuclear threat from China is also ramping up in size and scope.
During the same Senate hearings on Wednesday, National Nuclear Security Admin. Administrator Jill Hruby discussed China's efforts in putting nuclear weapons into orbit around the Earth. Known as a Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS), the goal is to launch a warhead into a stable orbit, then deorbit the platform anywhere in the world at will, and without warning.
AlertsUSA continues to monitor the domestic and international threat environment around the clock and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages to their mobile devices, of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant. |
