ABSTRACT
This chapter examines possible procedures for verified dismantlement of nuclear warheads, destruction of their non-nuclear components, and disposition of their contained fissile materials in ways that make them inaccessible for use in making new warheads. It focuses on procedures to verify the elimination of nuclear warheads that, under treaty, have been specified and made available for dismantlement and rendering of their contained fissile materials useless for making other nuclear warheads. The chapter shows that two levels of secrecy must be maintained. The first involves information that nuclear weapon states do not want to reveal to each other. The second is information that may be well known to two or more nuclear weapon states, but is not generally public. When the dismantlement operations start at a deployment site, all nuclear warheads to be eliminated-possibly along with other attached payload components such as re-entry vehicles and guidance packages-are placed inside shipping containers.
