Abstract
There has been considerable progress to date in the general processes of nuclear submarine dismantlement in Russia. A large portion of the Soviet Union’s SSBN force will be laid safely to rest by 2003, if current work under the CTR program is adequately funded and USRussian cooperation continues. Fresh fuel storage is also in considerably better shape than it was in 1991, with material consolidation and safety upgrades having made significant steps forward in both the Northern and Pacific Fleets. However, numerous problems remain due to the large amount of fissile material within the naval fuel cycle, the failure of existing programs to reach all fresh fuel sites, and widespread problems in the protection of spent fuel. The United States and other countries need to help manage the gradual reduction of the Russian naval fuel cycle until the amount of fissile material in the system reaches a level that is sustainable at a reasonable level of safety by the Russians themselves. The future completion of the SSBN dismantlement mission and the continuation of programs in the areas of fresh fuel and spent fuel therefore remain crucial to the goal of preventing proliferation threats. Existing cooperative programs have accomplished a great deal through the hard work of both the US and Russian sides. Keeping these efforts going and protecting them from political interference should be a priority in future bilateral relations.
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