Mighty Saber demonstrates post-nuclear detonation technical forensics capabilities

In late 2013, a team of more than fifty scientists from across the U.S. laboratory and industrial complex began preparing for Mighty Saber with the goal of demonstrating and evaluating post-detonation technical nuclear forensics capabilities following a simulated detonation of a nuclear device in an urban environment. Mighty Saber, which ran from 27 July to 21 August 2015, successfully met each of its objectives, including demonstrating U.S. government post- detonation nuclear forensics processes; the value of prompt diagnostics data provided by the Discreet Oculus ground-based sensor network; and how prompt diagnostics complements radiochemistry in providing a robust post-detonation nuclear forensics capability.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency/STRATCOM Center forCombating Weapons of Mass Destruction (DTRA/SCC-WMD) recently concluded a demonstration and evaluation ofnew capabilities to support post-detonation technical nuclear forensics. DTRA says that Mighty Saber, which ran from 27 July to21 August 2015, successfully met each of its objectives, including demonstrating U.S. governmentpost- detonation nuclear forensics processes; the value of prompt diagnostics data provided by the DiscreetOculus ground-based sensor network; and how prompt diagnostics complements radiochemistry in providing arobust post-detonation nuclear forensics capability. It also identified areas for improvement in post-detonationnuclear forensics capabilities, and provided opportunities to explore nuclear forensics interactions with intelligence,law enforcement, and policycommunities.

DTRA notes that starting in late 2013, a team of more than fifty scientists from across the U.S. laboratory and industrial complexbegan preparing for Mighty Saber with the goal of demonstrating and evaluating post-detonation technicalnuclear forensics capabilities following a simulateddetonation of a nuclear device in an urban environment.Mighty Saber did not have a physical presence at the fictitious device location. Using high-fidelity modelingand simulation tools, signals associated with a nuclear detonation were generated to simulate those sent fromthe (fictitious)nuclear device to the Discreet Oculus network of sensors, and then used to characterizethe weapon’s performance, determining potential design attributes. Operational labs’ analyticalcapabilities, executed using surrogate debris and materials, with simulated ground and air sample collectiondata, contributed to the overall nuclear forensicsassessment.

Discreet Oculus is a research and development effort to design and field a fully integrated,ground-based, geographically dispersed, centrally managed, operational prompt diagnostics system, and is designedto identify and characterize a limited nuclear attack. Its sensors and computer networks recordseismic, acoustic, air pressure, radiation, light, and radio frequency signals to help determine the size, location,altitude, and other characteristics of a nuclear attack. Information collected by this system will be used to helpnational and military leaders identify what was detonated, where the materials came from, and who launchedor supported theattack.

Mighty Saber included several hundredparticipants representing fifteen agencies, laboratories, and industrypartners.

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