DefenceTalkThe United States provided Iraq with intelligence on preparations for an Iranian offensive during the Iran-Iraq war even though it knew Baghdad would respond with chemical weapons, Foreign Policy magazine reported Monday. Citing declassified CIA documents and interviews with former officials, the magazine reviewed the US record as Washington weighs military action against Syria for […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-gave-iraq-intel-in-1980s-ignored-chemical-attacks-report-48910/

DefenceTalkIt is not a scene one would wish to envision: an explosion in an American town, with the emergency response broadcast blaring a message of caution over loud speakers to concerned citizens affected by the blast. Burning buildings, clothes scattered in every direction, debris blocking once passable roadways, all are merely a small portion of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/vibrant-response-trains-troops-for-nuclear-disaster-48801/

DefenceTalkThe Air National Guard celebrated a historic milestone this week as the 131st Bomb Wing, the nation’s only Guard unit to fly and maintain the B-2 Spirit, was certified to conduct the nuclear mission upon completion of their initial nuclear surety inspection. With this certification, the 131st BW reached full operational capability with the B-2, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-ang-bomb-wing-certified-for-nuclear-operations-48695/

DefenceTalkSatellite images suggest North Korea may have doubled uranium enrichment capacity at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex, a US think-tank that tracks the North’s nuclear weapons program said Thursday The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said the images showed the building housing the gas centrifuge plant at Yongbyon had been expanded to twice […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-maybe-doubled-uranium-enrichment-capacity-isis-48688/

DefenceTalkPresident Vladimir Putin is to visit Iran in August to try to restart talks on Tehran’s controversial nuclear drive, a Russian newspaper reported Wednesday. Putin’s visit is planned for mid-August, shortly after Iran’s moderate new president Hassan Rowhani takes office on August 3, Kommersant reported, citing sources in the Kremlin and the Iranian foreign ministry. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-to-visit-iran-for-nuclear-talks-report-48618/

DefenceTalkThe Burke Chair is issuing a fully updated version of the second volume in a new series of reports on the Gulf Military Balance. The new volume is called The Gulf Military Balance, Volume Two: The Nuclear and Missile Dimensions. Volume Two builds on, updates, and expands previous Burke Chair reports on the military balance […]https://www.defencetalk.com/the-gulf-military-balance-volume-two-the-nuclear-and-missile-dimensions-48533/

DefenceTalkA review of Britain’s nuclear defences has concluded it needs four nuclear submarines to stay safe, but alternatives could be found in the future. The review, led by Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander, said there are alternatives to the UK’s current nuclear stance which requires at least one nuclear-armed submarine always to be at a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uk-needs-four-nuclear-subs-to-stay-safe-48499/

DefenceTalkDefence Secretary Philip Hammond has warned it would be “reckless” to downgrade the UK’s nuclear deterrent ahead of the release of a Liberal Democrat-led review of alternatives to replacing the Royal Navy’s fleet of Trident submarines. The Lib Dems have opposed the like-for-like replacement of the Trident system, and the review of alternatives led by […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uk-government-remains-committed-to-trident-48488/

DefenceTalkRussia will continue to increase its potential in air-space forces and other parts of its nuclear deterrence strategy, Chief of Staff said Tuesday. “(Russia) will beef up its air-space defense capabilities through modernization of its informational and first-strike parts,” Valery Gerasimov told reporters. He added that such modernization would guarantee early warning about launch of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-to-beef-up-strategic-deterrence-potential-48477/

DefenceTalkChina and South Korea will keep pushing to end North Korea’s nuclear program, their leaders declared Thursday at a high-profile summit between Pyongyang’s closest ally and its key rival. “We have agreed that under any circumstances, North Korea’s nuclear (weapons) are unacceptable and confirmed that the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is of common interest […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-south-korea-agree-to-push-north-korea-denuclearization-48272/