Disquiet on the Eastern Front

Even in this more relaxed post-Cold War era, Russia`s leaders believe that nuclear weapons are vital to national security. Maintaining confidence in their safety, security, and reliability is therefore essential. But whether Russia can maintain the necessary level of confidence in the face of economic chaos is uncertain. The Russian nuclear weapons complex, managed by the Ministry of Atomic Energy (Minatom), has designed, produced, and maintained nuclear weapons for more than 50 years. But with massive stockpile reductions and the signing of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, its activities must now shift to stockpile management. The principal missions of the Russian nuclear complex are: producing tritium and tritium components, manufacturing replacement warheads, dismantling retired warheads, and monitoring the arsenal to insure the safety and reliability of the weapons that remain deployed. In response to similar changes in mission, the US Energy Department has initiated an elaborate and expensive stockpile stewardship and management program. The US program has come under close public scrutiny. In contrast, little is known about Russia`s plan for stockpile stewardship. Russia has the expertise-but not the money-to maintain its nuclear stockpile.