Energy Secretary Pushes to Ramp Up U.S. Ability to Test Nuke Bombs
Washington - Although scientists continue work on simulating nuclear bomb tests by computer, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said Tuesday that the Nevada Test Site's ability to resume actual underground warhead detonations must be enhanced.
The Department of Energy's 2006 budget request includes $4 million this year and $14 million next year to resurrect research on a potential "bunker buster" variation of an existing warhead to destroy buried enemy targets. Congress killed the so-called Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator.
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