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U.S. Response: NNSA Lacks Airlift Capability for Nuclear Response Team A recent report by the U.S. Energy Department’s inspector general says the National Nuclear Security Administration needs more aircraft to enable it to react quickly to a possible terrorist attack involving nuclear weapons, Energy Daily reported today (see GSN, July 9). According to the report, the NNSA does not always have enough aircraft available to transport its Joint Technical Operation Team (JTOT) in the event of a nuclear attack. In addition, the agency does not have contingency plans in place if its own aircraft are unavailable, the report says. Currently, the NNSA has four aircraft available for use — a Gulfstream 3 long-range, high-speed jet; two Boeing DC-9 airliners; and a Lear jet, according to Energy Daily. The report found, however, that the NNSA’s contract with the Gulfstream’s operator did not require that the plane be maintained on a permanent stand-by basis. In addition, the Gulfstream 3 was also found to have been used for other purposes, it says. The Lear jet is not an adequate substitute because of its limited range and smaller size, the report says. It also says that the two DC-9 airliners are not capable of transporting JTOT personnel and equipment “to all possible incident sites.” The Energy Department has also “not developed formal contingency plans” for the use of other aircraft, either civilian or military, in the event the NNSA aircraft were unavailable, according to the report. “Based on these findings, we are concerned that JTOT personnel may not be able to respond as rapidly and effectively as necessary to address a potential terrorist incident,” Energy Inspector General Gregory Friedman said in the report. “Specifically, given the national importance of the JTOT mission and the necessity of timely arrival of JTOT personnel and equipment at an incident site, uncertainties relating to aircraft capability are unacceptable,” he said (Nathan Hodge, Energy Daily, July 15).
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