Scientific Assessment of High-Power Free-Electron Laser Technology (BPA)

Released 12.16.08

Since the late 1960s, the Navy has been conducting research to develop a megawatt-class directed-energy weapon using laser technology. The Navy settled on the free-electron laser (FEL) as the best candidate for naval applications and initiated its FEL program in the mid-1990s. To date, researchers have demonstrated an FEL producing 14 kilowatts (KW) of continuous-wave power of infrared light. The next step proposed by the Navy is to demonstrate and study a 100 KW FEL system to establish the technology needed for scaling to the megawatt level in the infrared wavelength region. To assist in planning its next steps, the Navy has asked the NRC to review the current state of the art and anticipated advances for high-average-power FELs, and to analyze the capabilities, constraints, and trade-offs of the FEL to achieve the goal of a megawatt-class output beam at wavelengths of 1-2 micrometers. Additional steps would be needed to make the FEL into a useable, shipboard defensive weapon. This report describes the state of the art and anticipated advances for high-average-power FEL technology across the FEL community and it provides a detailed assessment of those technologies and challenges for future development.

Evaluation of Quantification of Margins and Uncertainties Methodology for Assessing and Certifying the Reliability of the Nation’s Nuclear Stockpile (DEPS)

Released 11.11.08

Maintaining the capabilities of the nuclear weapons stockpile and performing the annual assessment for the stockpile’s certification involves a wide range of processes, technologies, and expertise.  An important and valuable element helping to link those components is the quantification of margins and uncertainties (QMU) framework.  In 2006, Congress asked the National Research Council to evaluate the QMU methodology as used by the national security laboratories.  The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) then affirmed its interest in this request.  Congress and NNSA were interested in how the national security labs were using QMU, how it was being used for the annual assessment, whether there were problematic differences among the three national security labs in the way they were applying QMU, and whether QMU could be used to help certify a proposed reliable replacement warhead.  This report presents an assessment of each of these four issues and includes findings and recommendations to help guide laboratory and NNSA implementation and development of the QMU framework and congressional oversight of those activities.

Review of Directed Energy Technology for Countering Rockets, Artillery, and Mortars (RAM) (BAST)

Released 09.29.08 

The spread of indiscriminate rocket, artillery, and mortar attacks on civilian, urban populations has dramatically increased the importance of finding effective technologies to destroy these projectiles in flight.  To address this threat, the U.S. Army is currently developing laser counter-RAM systems that could be used in fixed installations. A particularly attractive candidate is the solid-state laser because of recent technical and operational advances.  To help explore this option, the Army asked the NRC to assess the quality and complementarities of the Army’s space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command’s program to develop and demonstrate a high-energy, solid-state laser weapon system.  The NRC considered a broad range of technical issues in carrying out this assessment.  Because of the sensitive nature of this research, distribution is limited because of export control restrictions.  The report summary is available to the public.

Review of Secondary Waste Disposal Planning for the Blue Grass and Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plants (BAST)

Released 09.30.08

The U.S. Army is disposing of the nation’s stockpile of chemical weapons in compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention.  Two of the disposal facilities—Pueblo, CO and Blue Grass, KY—are in the design and early construction phase.  When completed, these facilities will produce secondary wastes during the processing of the chemical weapons that are also considered hazardous.  At the request of the U.S. Army, the NRC carried out an examination of environmental, regulatory, and permit requirements for secondary waste management at the two sites to assist the Army’s review of management options.  This report provides an introduction to the Army’s task, a description of the two disposal processes including secondary waste generation, an assessment of applicable regulatory requirements, the status of planning for secondary waste management, a review of public participation issues, and an analysis of alternative offsite management options. 

Maritime Security Partnerships (NSB)

Released 09.15.08 

The expanding array of maritime security concerns—piracy, smuggling, drug trading, trade disruption, and so forth—has stimulated thinking by the U.S. Navy about new ways to structure naval forces. In particular, the Chief of Naval Operations has adopted a vision for the peacetime Navy to combat such threats called “the 1000-ship Navy.”  To help develop this concept, the CNO asked the NRC to examine the technical and operational implications of this vision.  Because these threats necessitate a global response requiring sharing maritime information and coordinated action, the study committee chose to call this concept “maritime security partnerships” (MSP).  This report provides a discussion of the context for creating MSPs in the 21st century, an examination of cooperation modes and models for maritime security, an analysis of information sharing as a key enabler of MSP, and recommendations for an MSP implementation strategy.

U.S. Conventional Prompt Global Strike: Issues for 2008 and Beyond (NSB)

Released 08.21.08

In its FY2007 budget request, the Department of Defense sought funding to develop a capability to strike within a few hours any point in the world with conventional weapons.  That prompt global strike (PGS) capability would have been implemented by replacing the nuclear warhead on selected Trident missiles with a conventional explosive warhead.  Congressional concerns about the PGS concept resulted in a request to the NRC in the 2007 Defense Appropriations Act to analyze a broad range of technical and policy aspects about the DOD proposal including consideration of a range of other options.  This is the final report of this study and presents an introduction to the PGS concept; an analysis of the military issues; an examination of political, international, policy, doctrinal, and technology issues; an assessment of conventional PGS options; a discussion of key questions; and major findings and recommendations. 

Emerging Cognitive Neuroscience and Related Technologies (AFSB)

Released 08.13.08

In 2004, the NRC set up a standing committee to report on emerging scientific and technological trends that would be of critical importance to the nation’s intelligence community (IC).  One such area is cognitive neuroscience and neurotechnology.  Deciding what information in those areas has national security information and assigning priorities, however, is a daunting challenge.  To help with this task, the NRC was asked by the Defense Intelligence Agency to identify those areas that will develop over the next 20 years and could have national security implications and be of interest to the IC.  This report begins with a discussion of questions about cognitive neuroscience and related technologies that may be important for the decision maker.  It then presents an assessment of selected areas of interest in cognitive science research and technology; an examination of emerging areas; an analysis of cultural and ethical underpinnings; and an assessment of potential intelligence and military applications of these areas.

Preliminary Observations on DoD Software Research Needs and Priorities: A  Letter Report (CSTB)

Released 05.22.08

The nation’s defense systems depend critically on advanced software, a dependency that will grow in both extent and complexity. Yet the Department of Defense is increasingly concerned for a number of reasons about its ability to meet these growing software needs. The help address these concerns, DoD asked the NRC to assess the nature of the national investment in software research and consider ways to revitalize the knowledge and human resource base needed to assure the needed software-intensive systems. To provide preliminary feedback on DoD software research needs and priorities and suggestions for a research agenda, DoD asked the NRC for an interim letter report. The letter report addresses three key technology areas: the management of engineering risk; software quality assurance; and the reduction of requirements-related risk without excessive sacrifice in systems capability. These and other areas will be discussed in greater detail in the final report. 

Integrated Computational Materials Engineering: A Transformational Discipline for Improved Competitiveness and National Security (NMAB)

Released 04.25.2008

Integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) is an emerging discipline that can accelerate materials development and unify design and manufacturing. Developing ICME is a grand challenge that could provide significant economic benefit. To help develop a strategy for development of this new technology area, DOE and DoD asked the NRC to explore its benefits and promises, including the benefits of a comprehensive ICME capability; to establish a strategy for development and maintenance of an ICME infrastructure, and to make recommendations about how best to meet these opportunities. This report provides a vision for ICME, a review of case studies and lessons learned, an analysis of technological barriers, and an evaluation of ways to overcome cultural and organizational challenges to develop the discipline.