US conducts sub-critical tests

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, Sept 28: United States conducted non-explosive nuclear tests in the Nevada nuclear test site on Saturday, according to a Department of Energy (DOE) spokesperson. However, the tests were sub-critical experiments designed to obtain data on the effects of aging on material in nuclear weapons.

The purpose of the experiments is to maintain the safety and reliability of the US nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing, which is fully in terms with the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. US Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said in a statement that the sub-critical experiments were meant to ensure the safety and reliability of the stockpile without explosive nuclear testing. Saturday's tests are believed to be part of a major stockpile stewardship porgramme embarked by the US in order to maintain an edge over other nuclear weapon states.

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