Reports

The MANPADS Threat and International Efforts to Address It

October 2013 - Director of the Arms Sales Monitoring Project Matt Schroeder assesses the terrorist threat from MANPADS and efforts by the international community to curb this threat. The report proposes additional measures that governments can take to further reduce the illicit proliferation and use of MANPADS worldwide.

Iran’s Nuclear Odyssey: Costs and Risks

April 2013 - Iran’s quest for the development of nuclear program has been marked by enormous financial costs and risks. The report analyzes the economic effects of Iran’s nuclear program, and policy implications of sanctions and other actions by the United States and other allies.

Trimming Nuclear Excess

December 2012 - The United States and Russia have significantly reduced their nuclear arsenals since the end of the Cold War. Russia and the United States currently hold more than 90 percent of the world’s total inventory of nuclear warheads. What can nuclear weapons states do to keep reducing their nuclear weapons stockpiles?

Iran and the Global Economy

October 2012 - The escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran over the latter’s nuclear program has triggered much debate about what actions should be taken to ensure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon. How might certain actions against Iran affect the global economy?

Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons

May 2012 - NATO’s Deterrence and Defense Posture Review (DDPR) will determine the number and role of the U.S. non-strategic nuclear weapons deployed in Europe and how NATO might work to reduce its nuclear posture as well as Russia's inventory of such weapons in the future.

The Future of Nuclear Power in the United States

February 2012 - In the wake of the devastating meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, many Americans are now reevaluating the costs and benefits of nuclear energy. If anything, the accident underscores that constant vigilance is needed to ensure nuclear safety. Policymakers and the public need more guidance about where nuclear power in the United States appears to be heading.

Towards Enhanced Safeguards for Iran's Nuclear Program

October 2011 - Ali Vaez and Charles Ferguson co-authored a report analyzing options for establishing an enhanced safeguards system for the Iranian nuclear program.

Anatomizing Non-State Threats to Pakistan's Nuclear Infrastructure

June 2011 - The greatest threat to Pakistan's nuclear infrastructure comes from jihadists both inside Pakistan and South and Central Asia. While there is appreciation of this danger, there are few substantive studies that identify and explore specific groups motivated and potentially capable of acquiring Pakistani nuclear weapons and/or fissile materials.

Upsetting the Reset - The Technical Basis of Russian Concern Over NATO Missile Defense

June 2011 - An overview and technical assessment of the Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA) missile defense system proposed by NATO and the United States.

From Counterforce to Minimal Deterrence: A New Nuclear Policy on the Path Toward Eliminating Nuclear Weapons

April 2009 - Though the nuclear arsenal of the United States is smaller than it was during the Cold War, the day-to-day deployment of forces has changed very little. The United States still has weapons ready to launch at a moment's notice at all times. This report describes how to reduce the nuclear missions to one: a minimal deterrence of nuclear attack.

The Stockpile Stewardship Program: Fifteen Years On

June 2007 - Nuclear weapons, while simple in principle, are technically complex devices with a multitude of components. As with any complicated piece of equipment, there may be concern that, over time, a weapon’s reliability could decline. To coordinate efforts to maintain the nation’s existing nuclear weapons, the Department of Energy developed a Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP). This report reviews the status of the experimental devices that support the SSP, describes how each experiment is supposed to work, and identifies the problems that have been encountered.

Chinese Nuclear Forces and U.S. Nuclear War Planning

November 2006 - This report examines the debate over China's modernization of its nuclear forces, describes past and current U.S. nuclear targeting of China, and uses software to simulate the effects of Chinese and U.S. of nuclear attacks.

Missions for Nuclear Weapons after the Cold War

January 2005 - This report examines all the missions proposed for U.S. nuclear weapons and finds conventional weapons are better in most cases. The report calls for reducing and restructuring the United States’ and Russia’s nuclear forces and giving up the push for a new generation of nuclear weapons including “bunker busters.”