National Technical Nuclear Forensics

The National Technical Nuclear Forensics (NTNF) program, as outlined in Program Element (PE) 0207573F, is a specialized Air Force initiative focused on enhancing the United States' ability to detect, analyze, and characterize nuclear detonations in the atmosphere and space. The primary objective of this program is to advance operational systems development through research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities. The NTNF program supports the integration and exploitation of data from advanced sensor suites, specifically the Space and Atmospheric Burst Reporting System (SABRS) sensors, into analytical platforms such as the Integrated Correlation and Display System (ICADS).

A central goal of the NTNF program is to improve the United States Nuclear Detonation Detection System (USNDS), which is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and evaluating signatures from nuclear detonations in space and the atmosphere. The program seeks to integrate data from the SABRS-2 and SABRS-3 sensor suites, which are hosted on geostationary satellites, into the ICADS platform. This integration is critical for enabling detailed subject matter expert analysis of SABRS data, which in turn supports weapon and event characterization, including identification of weapon type, yield, and reaction time history.

The Prompt Diagnostics project within the NTNF program is specifically tasked with the development of algorithms, codes, and analytical tools necessary to fully exploit SABRS sensor data. These tools are designed to process unique event signatures captured by the sensors, providing evidence of nuclear detonations and supporting forensic analysis. The project involves collaboration with national laboratories and the Kansas City Nuclear Security Campus, leveraging their expertise for reachback and technical support in developing advanced diagnostic capabilities.

For Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, the NTNF program is funded to support the completion of SABRS-2/3 data integration into ICADS and the continued development of algorithms and analytical tools for subject matter expert analysis. These efforts are intended to ensure that the Air Force and broader national security community can rapidly and accurately characterize nuclear events, supporting both immediate response and long-term forensic investigations.

The NTNF program is categorized under Budget Activity 7, Operational Systems Development, reflecting its focus on upgrading and enhancing systems that have already been fielded or approved for full-rate production. This classification allows for the development of new capabilities that anticipate future production funding, ensuring that the USNDS remains at the forefront of nuclear detonation detection and analysis technology. The program also includes provisions for necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage and execute these advanced technical efforts, though no such expenses are forecasted for FY 2024 or FY 2025 within this element.

In addition to RDT&E funding, the NTNF program receives procurement support through a designated line item, which is allocated to support the operational deployment and sustainment of NTNF capabilities. This procurement funding complements the research and development activities under PE 0207573F. The acquisition strategy for NTNF is still under assessment, but historically, contracts have been executed via Military Interdepartmental Purchase Requests, with national laboratories playing a key role in technical development.