Use of Reconnaissance Equipment to Support Nuclear Arms Control

Abstract

The future control of nuclear disarmament poses different challenges. In order to support arms control tasks, the use of reconnaissance tools is extremely important, because verification tasks cannot be carried out continuously on site. In order to do this, it is necessary to be able to determine the verification methods and approaches that can be used for the capabilities of these reconnaissance tools, because each method and approach requires a different type. The previous nuclear arms limitation and disarmament agreements also contain elements relating to various, primarily satellite, reconnaissance devices, which are presented in various treaties and agreements as the so-called National Technical Means of Verification. However, the rules and principles of using these tools are not detailed. As a result of technical development, the importance of these detection systems has increased significantly, but it is important that these devices cannot completely replace on-site inspection activities due to the limitations of their application. During the development work, the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification began to re-examine the application possibilities of these sensors as a result of technical development.