US says it conducted experiment aimed at improving ability to detect nuclear blast

WASHINGTON: The US National Nuclear Security Administration conducted a "subsurface, non-nuclear chemical high-explosive experiment" on Wednesday that the Energy Department said aimed to improve the United States' ability to detect low-yield nuclear explosions.

The experiment was focused on improving US capabilities to detect a "decoupled" explosion, the type of test Washington alleged China had conducted in June 2020 to decrease the effectiveness of seismic monitoring.

The United States accused Beijing earlier this year of conducting the secret nuclear test in 2020 as it called for a new, broader arms control treaty.


China said at the time that the US allegation was "entirely unfounded" and an attempt "to fabricate excuses for resuming" US nuclear testing.

The US National Nuclear Security Administration successfully conducted the experiment at the Nevada National Security Site in the P Tunnel in Area 12, using chemical high-explosives and radiotracers, the Energy Department said in a statement on Wednesday.

It added that data collected from the experiment will be used to validate scientific models and refine algorithms critical to US nuclear explosion detection efforts.