US Accelerates Plutonium 'Pits' Production Amid Nuclear Arms Race
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Guardian
The US is ramping up production of plutonium "pits," which are vital components of warheads in the country's nuclear arsenal, as part of a $1.5tn effort to modernize its nuclear weapons program. Concerns over geopolitical tensions with Russia and China have prompted the US to replace aging intercontinental ballistic missiles. However, there are questions about the logic of placing new missiles in the US heartlands. The US has not been able to produce enough plutonium pits to refresh its stockpile of warheads, and estimates vary on how quickly the pits degrade. The National Nuclear Security Administration's plan to meet production goals has faced challenges, including a lack of expertise and rising costs. The renewed focus on nuclear weapons comes amid rising concerns over a potential arms race and the risk of nuclear conflict.