Destruction and Dismantlement projects aim to eliminate all strategic offensive weapons and infrastructure from Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. These projects assist Russia in keeping to the START I dismantlement timeframe and also in establishing and implementing programs for the destruction of its chemical weapons.  For information on ICBM dismantlement, see the Russia: Weapons: ICBM Deactivation and Dismantlement file; for information on foreign assistance for submarine dismantlement, see the Russia: Naval Fuel Cycle Foreign Assistance section.[Department of Defense, "CTR Destruction and Dismantlement: Forecast to Industry," 2/96, p. 2.] {Entered 10/27/96, mew}
 
CHEMICAL WEAPONS DESTRUCTION 
This CTR chemical weapons (CW) destruction program has four objectives: establishment of a chemical weapons destruction facility (CWDF) in Shchuchye; provision of chemical agent monitoring capabilities to support CW elimination activities; conversion of Chemical Weapons Production Facilities (CWPFs); and CW storage facility security enhancements. The project works at two main locations: GosNIIOKhT (State Scientific Research Institute for Organic Chemistry and Technology) Central Analytical Lab in Moscow, and at the Shchuchye CWDF. The program’s objective is to destroy 32,000t of chemical weapons.[1,2]  The United States and Russia signed an implementing agreement for chemical weapon destruction on 30 July 1992 and then amended that agreement in March 1994 and May 1996. By the end of 1996, the CTR program had provided up to $68 million for chemical weapons destruction.[3] Through FY2002, the United States had expended $208.59 million for CW destruction projects in Russia ($39.42 in FY2002).[9]

On 18 May 1994, the US DoD awarded a $7.4 million contract to the Bechtel corporation for the development of a Comprehensive Implementation Plan for destruction of Russian chemical munitions. Bechtel produced a planning document for a destruction facility to be constructed in Kurgan Oblast at Shchuchye. [3,4]  In December 1996, Department of Defense (DOD) contracted with Parsons Engineering to design and construct the actual facility.[5] 

As of January 2003, the construction schedule provided for initial operations with live agents to commence in October 2007, and transfer to the Russian Federation in March 2008.[9] The US funds are to be used only for the building of the actual chemical destruction facility. The Russian authorities must find resources to build the associated infrastructure such as roads, water mains, and power, as well as one of the 100 buildings dedicated to destruction. Russia began work on the support infrastructure in FY2000. DOD has started preparing the site, and as of January 2003 was scheduled to start construction of the main destruction building in April 2004.  Although the FY2002 National Defense Authorization Act removed the permanent prohibition on construction, it replaced it with a requirement for certification by the Secretary of Defense.[7] Conditions that Russia must fulfill in order to receive certification include provision of comprehensive information on the Russian CW stockpile; an annual commitment of $25 million in Russian funds to CW elimination; development of a CW elimination plan; enactment of legislation providing for elimination of all nerve agents at a single facility; an agreement to eliminate CW production facilities in Volgograd and Novocheboksarsk, and a demonstrated commitment from the international community to fund CW elimination facility support infrastructure.[8] The United States originally wanted to build an incinerator to dispose of the chemical munitions, but Russia believes this process to be environmentally unsound. Therefore the CTR funds are going toward building a facility that employs Russian neutralization technology.[6] The Russian neutralization process was evaluated and approved by Bechtel National Inc., Battelle Memorial Institute, and GosNIIOKht.[7]

Under the Chemical Agent Analytical Monitoring project, CTR assistance is provided for the establishment of a Central Chemical Weapons Destruction Laboratory (which was dedicated in April 2000) at GosNIIOKhT and purchase of three mobile analytical laboratories. The laboratory is to develop of analytical methods and monitoring procedures for use at CW elimination facilities. It will also assist in training elimination facility and mobile laboratory personnel. The mobile laboratories will participate in operator training and provide CW monitoring capabilities at CW storage sites and elimination facilities.[7] They were provided in December 1996.[2]

Finally, the Chemical Weapons Site Security project provided $10 million through FY2002 to improve security measures at the Shchuchye and Kizner CW storage facilities. Completion of improvements at the Shchuchye facility is planned for December 2002, and at the Kizner facility for March 2003. Logistical support will be provided through FY2004.[7]

The CWPF Demilitarization project is intended to demilitarize nerve agent production facilities at Khimprom (Volgograd) and its Plant No. 4 (Novocheboksarsk) by decontaminating, dismantling, and destroying equipment used to produce, transfer, and store chemical weapons and precursors. Although the Russian government proposed two additional sites for CTR support, the Kaprolaktam facility in Dzerzhinsk is instead receiving support from the European Union, while the Central Volga Chemical Factory in Chapayevsk was deemed an environmental restoration project and is not receiving CTR assistance.[7]
Sources:
[1] Department of Defense, "CTR Program Implementation: Forecast to Industry, 23 February 1996.
[2] Department of Defense, "CTR Update: Russia," 19 September 1996.
[3] "Background Document: The Cooperative Threat Reduction Assistance to Russia", 16 January 1997, as found on the website of the Stimson Center's Nuclear Roundtable, http://www.stimson.org/rd-table/ctr-russ.htm.
[4] Theresa Hitchens and Stephen C. LeSueur, "Critics Fear Misuse of U.S. Aid to Destroy Russian Arms", Defense News, 3 July 1994, p. 14.
[5] Franklin C. Miller, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy (Acting), Statement for the Record before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senate Armed Services Committee, 5 March 1997.
[6] "Interview: A Look Forward...Cooperative Threat Reduction Director Laura Holgate," Post-Soviet Nuclear & Defense Monitor, 7 April 1997, p. 9.
[7] "Cooperative Threat Reduction Annual Report to Congress, Fiscal Year 2002."
[8] National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002, Sec. 1203, Library of Congress Web Site, http://thomas.loc.gov/. {Updated 4/2/98 PBI} {Updated 8/29/2002 MJ}
[9] "Cooperative Threat Reduction Annual Report to Congress, Fiscal Year 2004," http://armedservices.house.gov/reports/2003exereports/03-01-01ctr.pdf.

ARCHIVED CHEMICAL WEAPONS DESTRUCTION DEVELOPMENTS:

This section is no longer being updated.  For more recent developments, please see the Foreign Assistance Programs developments file, as well as the Chemical and Biological Weapons & WMD Terrorism News Archive, available online at http://www.nti.org/db/cbw/index.htm.

9/27/96: GAO REPORT: DELAY FUNDS UNTIL ESTIMATE MADE
The US General Accounting Office recommended in its September 1996 review of the CTR program that Congress delay obligation of funds for the proposed chemical weapons destruction facility in Shchuchye until the US Department of Defense (DoD) provides a reliable estimate of the facility’s total cost based upon a one-third completed design. (The DoD’s 1995 estimate of $900 million is considered outdated.) The report also recommended that the US find out its exact share of the total cost. The DoD concurred with these suggestions.
[GAO, "Weapons of Mass Destruction," GAO/NSIAD-96-222, 9/27/96.]{Entered, 2/11/97, mew} {Cleared 3/19/97 JWRL}
 
8/96: MOBILE LABORATORIES DELIVERED
The project for chemical weapons destruction completed its joint technical evaluation, and three mobile laboratories were delivered to Moscow in August 1996. The contract for construction of the pilot chemical weapons destruction facility in Shchuchye is scheduled to awarded in December 1996 and construction will begin in the first quarter of FY 97.
[Department of Defense, "CTR Update: Russia," 9/19/96.]{Entered 11/1/96, mew}  

STRATEGIC OFFENSIVE ARMS ELIMINATION (SOAE)
Assistance in the area of strategic offensive arms elimination provides Russia with the initial training of personnel to operate equipment, one year of parts and maintenance, and consultation for the destruction of Russia's strategic nuclear delivery vehicles and facilities.  Equipment in this category includes incinerators to destroy liquid rocket fuel and oxidizer derived from weapons destruction, cranes to help prepare missile silos for dismantlement, plasma cutters to cut up missile and heavy bomber airframes, and hydraulic shears to cut up the hulls of nuclear submarines.  At least $5 million in Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) funds have also gone to build service roads for access to missile silos and launchers being dismantled.[1]  The US DOD and the Russian Ministry of Defense Industry signed an SOAE implementing agreement on 26 August 1993 and the United States has been shipping SOAE equipment to Russia since July 1994. [2] 

The overall SOAE elimination goals under the CTR program include deactivation of 13,300 strategic warheads, elimination of 1,473 ICBMs, 936 SLBMs, 713 nuclear cruise missiles, and 205 bombers. Infrastructure subject to elimination includes 831 ICBM silos, 442 mobile ICBM launchers, 48 SSBNs with 728 SLBM launchers, and 194 nuclear test tunnels and shafts.[6] As of spring 1996, CTR assistance had helped eliminate more than 200 SLBM launchers, more than 350 ICBM silos, more than 1,300 ballistic missiles, 25 heavy bombers, and had removed more than 1,000 strategic nuclear warheads from deployed delivery systems. These CTR funds helped Russia become the only nuclear weapon successor state of the Soviet Union and also helped Russia fulfill its START I treaty obligations.[3] By July 2002 the total had increased to 5,970 deactivated warheads, 464 destroyed ICBMs, 322 destroyed SLBMs, 97 destroyed bombers, and 483 destroyed cruise missiles. Progress was also being made in the area of infrastructure elimination, with the number of eliminated ICBM silos increasing to 432 and SSBNs to 24 (with 396 SLBM launchers). While only one mobile ICBM launcher had eliminated by July 2002, the task of sealing nuclear test tunnels and shafts was fully completed. The goal of eliminating nuclear cruise missiles is to be completed by the end of 2004, but other elimination activities will proceed through 2007 and beyond.[6]

SOAE activities have been broken up into a number of discrete projects.

The Solid Propellant Disposition Facility (SPDF) was intended to provide the Russian Federation with a contained incineration system to remove propellant from solid-fuel ICBMs and SLBMs and to cut up missile bodies and canisters in accordance with START I elimination requirements. Although $99 million had been spent by FY2000, as of 2002 SPDF had not entered operation. Delays have been caused by the need to conduct additional equipment tests and the resistance of local Russian governments.[7] In February 2002 the government of Udmurtiya rejected a plan to locate the SPDF in the city of Votkinsk.[8]

The Solid Propellant ICBM/SLBM and Mobile Launcher Elimination project is aimed at eliminating SS-24 and SS-25 ICBMs, and SS-N-20 SLBMs. This project entails repairs to Russian missile disassembly facilities, fitting out and operating mobile launcher elimination facilities, elimination of SLBMs through open-air burning, and other activities.[7] Preparations for elimination of SS-24 rail-mobile launchers began in December 2001 at the 85th Repair Plant in Bryansk,[9] and the elimination of SS-25 road-mobile launchers is planned to commence in FY2003.[7] Since that time, the number of SS-25 missiles to be eliminated has been increased by 173 in 2002, and the number of road mobile SS-25 launchers by 102, and the program extended through FY2009.[12]

The Emergency Response Support Equipment portion of the SOAE effort included the provision of equipment to be used in the event of an accident during transportation of ballistic missiles or liquid rocket fuel. The emergency response train provided includes a rail-mounted crane, hydraulic tools, hydro-abrasive cutters, concrete pulverizers, and an excavator. It is based in Krasnoyarsk. Raytheon Technical Services Company and Parsons Delaware, Inc., are providing technical support, which will continue until ICBM and SLBM elimination activities are completed. Total funding for this project reached $7.5 million by FY2000, and will continue at a rate of $200,000 a year through FY2007.[7]

The Liquid Propellant Disposition Systems project was designed to assist the Russian Federation in eliminating the highly toxic liquid fuel and oxidizer used in ballistic missiles. The project included provision of unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine (UDMH) disposition systems that break down the propellant into commercial chemicals, intermodal containers, flatbed railcars, and cranes, and mobile oxidizer processing systems (MOPS) to convert 43,000t of dinitrogen tetroxide oxidizer into nitric acid. MOPS also has the capability to convert melange oxidizer, an activity which was to be funded by the Russian government. Two UDMH disposition systems were delivered to Krasnoyarsk. US firms involved as contractors in UDMH disposition project include Thiokol (integrating), Honeywell, Ware Energy, W&E Logistics, McAbee Construction, and Omni Instrumentation. The contract to develop MOPS was awarded to Bechtel International Services Inc.[7] However, delays in implementing this project were cited as reasons for the Russian government to sell much of the liquid fuel to International Launch Services Inc. for use in space launches.[10] In February 2002 DOD learned that both fuel and oxidizer had been diverted to the space program, and issued a stop work order on the liquid propellant disposition contract.[12]

The Liquid Propellant ICBM and Silo Elimination project has the goal of eliminating 87 SS-17 ICBMs, 206 SS-18 ICBMs and launch canisters, 73 SS-19 ICBMs and launch canisters and 90 SS-18 launch silos. The DOD provided necessary equipment (such as cranes, earth-moving equipment, scrap metal handling equipment, and industrial tools) for the Pibanshur, Uzhur, Yedrovo, Sechuga/Surovatikha, and Perm/Bershet elimination bases. In addition, the SS-18 elimination facility at Surovatikha is undergoing an upgrade, which was 60% complete as of January 2001. In FY 2000 Brown & Root Services Company was selected as the integrating contractor for the project, and the Russian firm Rosobshchemash won the contract to eliminate the first six SS-18 silos.[7] As of January 2003 the total cost of the project was estimated at $337.8 million, with $217.8 appropriated through FY2002.[12]

The Liquid Propellant SLBM Elimination project assists the Russian Federation in the elimination of SS-N-6, SS-N-8, and SS-N-18 SLBMs by defueling and transporting the missiles to elimination facilities, and subsequently destroying the missiles. Specific activities within the project included performing upgrades to elimination facilities at the Scientific Research Institute of Chemical and Construction Equipment (NIIKhSM) in Sergiyev Posad and the Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Plant (Krasmash), and the Revda base where missiles are defueled. By 2001 DTRA had negotiated contracts for the elimination of a total of 453 liquid-fuel SLBMs, including up to 173 at NIIKhSM and up to 280 at Krasmash.[7] The total number of SLBMs to be eliminated may increase to 642 if projected elimination of Delta III and one Delta IV submarines takes place.[12] The contracts also include funding for upgrades of defueling and neutralization equipment, railcar maintenance, rail renovations, office equipment, and recertifications of renovated equipment.[7] Through FY2002 $36.4 million had been allocated for this project, and eventual costs are expected to total $50.7 million.[12]

The SLBM Launcher Elimination/SSBN Dismantlement project funds the elimination of Russian SLBM launchers and associated SSBNs in accordance with START I elimination protocols. Under this project, two Yankee-class, 36 Delta-class, and five Typhoon-class are to be eliminated under direct contracts awarded to four START-designated elimination facilities: Zvedochka, Sevmash (both in Severodvinsk), Nerpa (Snezhnogorsk, near Murmansk), and Zvezda (Bolshoy Kamen, near Vladivostok). Contracts for 17 SSBNs were issued in FY1998 and FY1999.[7] As of January 2003 the estimated cost of the program was estimated at $434.8 million, and will continue beyond FY2009.[12] However, it may decrease due to the Russian Navy's apparent decision to retain up to three Typhoon-class SSBNs in service.[11] Also please see the Naval Fuel Cycle Foreign Assistance section for more information.

The Heavy Bomber Elimination Equipment project is complete, with equipment worth $10.3 million having been provided to Russia.[7]  Elimination activities are continuing at the elimination facility at the Engels air base.

By April 1997, according to then CTR Director Laura Holgate, almost $300 million was being spent on strategic dismantlement work.  For FY 1998 DOD requested $210 million for strategic offensive arms elimination.  The amount of that sum to be spent in Russia was earmarked for the continuing elimination programs in place for bombers, SS-18 missiles, SS-24 rail mobile launchers, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.[5] Through FY 2000 the total funding allocated for SOAE activities had reached $729.9 million, and is expected to rise to $1.6 billion by FY 2009.[7,12]
 
For more details on the elimination process please see the database's sections on Russia's nuclear weapons and Russia's naval reactors.
Sources:
[1] "Nunn-Lugar Contract," Eastern Economist, 9 June 1997, vol. 4, no. 20, p. 12.
[2] "Background Document: The Cooperative Threat Reduction Assistance to Russia", 16 January 1997, as found on the website of the Stimson Center's Nuclear Roundtable, http://www.stimson.org/rd-table/ctr-russ.htm.
[3] William C. Potter and John M. Shields, "Lessons from the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program," Asia-Pacific Review, Spring/Summer 1997, vol. 4, no.1, p. 37.
[4] "Interview: A Look Forward...Cooperative Threat Reduction Director Laura Holgate," Post-Soviet Nuclear & Defense Monitor, 7 April 1997, p. 6.
[5] Franklin C. Miller, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy (Acting), Statement for the Record before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senate Armed Services Committee, 5 March 1997.
[6] "Cooperative Threat Reduction Scorecard," Defense Threat Reduction Agency Web Site, http://www.dtra.mil/ctr/ctr_score.html, 18 July 2002.
[7] Cooperative Threat Reduction Annual Report to Congress, Fiscal Year 2002.
[8]  Mayak radio, 28 February 2002; in "Construction of Russian missile scrapping plant vetoed by local authorities," FBIS Document CEP20020228000193.
[9] Vladimir Kravchenko, "Our Missiles Sent for Scrap," Izvestiya online edition, http://www.izvestia.ru, 28 December 2001; in "Bryansk Plant Prepares To Scrap Rail-Mobile Launchers," FBIS Document DEP20020102000058.
[10] Guy Chazan, "U.S. Program Gets Burned In Deal To Convert Russian Missile Fuel," The Wall Street Journal, 24 May 2002.
[11] Interfax, 4 July 2002; in "Russia: Three of six Shark submarines to be cut up," FBIS Document CEP20020704000010.
{Updated 4/2/98 PBI}  {Updated 8/29/2002 MJ}
[12] "Cooperative Threat Reduction Annual Report to Congress, Fiscal Year 2004," http://armedservices.house.gov/reports/2003exereports/03-01-01ctr.pdf.

Page last updated 1 February 2005

This material is produced independently for NTI by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2003 by MIIS.

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