Nuclear Report

The director of national intelligence is required to submit a biennial report to lawmakers this week on the "nuclear aspirations of non-state entities, nuclear weapons and related programs in non-nuclear-weapons states and countries not parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and certain foreign persons," according to congressional statute.

That report, due Sept. 1, should include:

(1) A statement of the number of nuclear weapons possessed by such country or non-state entity.

(2) An estimate of the total number of nuclear weapons that such country or non-state entity seeks to obtain and, in the case of such non-state entity, an assessment of the extent to which such non-state entity is seeking to develop a nuclear weapon or device or radiological dispersion device.

(3) A description of the technical characteristics of any nuclear weapons possessed by such country or non-state entity.

(4) A description of nuclear weapons designs available to such country or non-state entity.

(5) A description of any sources of assistance with respect to nuclear weapons design provided to or by such country or non-state entity and, in the case of assistance provided by such country or non-state entity, a description of to whom such assistance was provided.

(6) An assessment of the annual capability of such country and non-state entity to produce new or newly designed nuclear weapons.

(7) A description of the type of fissile materials used in any nuclear weapons possessed by such country or non-state entity.

(8) A) description of the location and production capability of any fissile materials production facilities in such country or controlled by such non-state entity, the current status of any such facilities, and any plans by such country or non-state entity to develop such facilities.

(9) An identification of the source of any fissile materials used by such country or non-state entity, if such materials are not produced in facilities referred to in paragraph (8).

(10) An assessment of the intentions of such country or non-state entity to leverage civilian nuclear capabilities for a nuclear weapons program.

(11) A description of any delivery systems available to such country or non-state entity and an assessment of whether nuclear warheads have been mated, or there are plans for such warheads to be mated, to any such delivery system.

(12) An assessment of the physical security of the storage facilities for nuclear weapons in such country or controlled by such non-state entity.

(13) An assessment of whether such country is modernizing or otherwise improving the safety, security, and reliability of the nuclear weapons stockpile of such country.

(14) An assessment of the industrial capability and capacity of such country or non-state entity to produce nuclear weapons.

(15) In the case of a country, an assessment of the policy of such country on the employment and use of nuclear weapons.