ABSTRACT
This chapter defines the scope of the infrastructure that supports the development and production of nuclear weapons. It includes discussions of production facilities for nuclear warheads and a brief discussion of that portion of the defense industrial base that produces nuclear warhead delivery systems. The chapter also serves as a transition from the previous discussion of nuclear dilemmas and defenses to 'The Economics of Nuclear Weapons.' Department of Defense support for operational forces is provided by the Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA). This organization performs research on the effects of nuclear weapons to determine how to make US military systems more survivable during a Soviet nuclear attack. In addition, DNA conducts accident exercises to train military and civilian personnel to respond effectively to accidents involving nuclear weapons or production facilities. In China, nuclear weapon operations are conducted by the Strategic Rocket Forces, naval units assigned to operate and maintain one ballistic missile submarine.
