The Future of Britain's WMD
Appendix
US-UK trade in nuclear explosive materials
DECLASSIFICATION OF THE QUANTITY OF PLUTONIUM ACQUIRED FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM UNDER BARTERS A, B, AND C OF THE 1958 UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM MUTUAL DEFENSE AGREEMENT, 22 December 1997
The Department of Energy committed to provide any additional information that could be released regarding plutonium inventories. DOE, with the cooperation of the United Kingdom (UK) Government, is releasing additional information regarding nuclear materials barters, i.e., the quantity of plutonium received from the UK and the tritium and highly enriched uranium provided to the UK under each of the individual Barters (A, B, and C). In addition, the Department is releasing information regarding the quality of the plutonium in terms of Pu-240 content. The release of this information will provide the public with more information regarding plutonium inventories.
SPECIFICALLY:
| Barter A 1960 - 1969 |
Barter B 1964 - 1969 |
Barter C 1975 - 1979 |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plutonium Received from the UK | 0.5 metric tons | 4.1 metric tons | 0.8 metric tons | 5.4 metric tons |
| Tritium Delivered to the UK | 6.0 kilograms | None | 0.7 kilograms | 6.7 kilograms |
| HEU Delivered to the UK | None | 7.5 metric tons | None | 7.5 metric tons |
The Pu-240 content of the 5.4 metric tons received under the barters was as follows:
| Pu - 240 content | Metric Tons Received |
|---|---|
| 2% | 0.1 |
| 10 - 12% | 1.2 |
| 13 - 15% | 1.9 |
| 16 - 20% | 2.2 |
| Total | 5.4 |
BACKGROUND :
The total quantity of plutonium received by barter was announced in February 1996; today we are releasing the quantities received for each of the individual barters. Programs for mutual defense and international cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy are authorized by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. The 1958 United States / United Kingdom Mutual Defense Agreement had barter provisions for the exchange and safeguarding of atomic material.
Most plutonium was shipped from the UK to the Hanford and Savannah River Sites. Prior to 1964, some plutonium received under Barter A was used for military purposes. In 1964, the U.S. and the UK agreed to use Barter A and Barter B plutonium for civilian programs and that an equivalent amount of U.S. plutonium could be substituted for UK plutonium in U.S. civilian programs. Civilian programs include californium production and reactor research. The Barter C was not so restricted. Some of the plutonium received under Barter C was used in U.S. nuclear weapons.
Information released is based on evaluating available records; it may be updated or revised based on re-evaluation of the methodology used originally or upon the availability of any newly discovered information.
By declassification, the United States government with the cooperation of the U.K. government is acting as a global leader in nuclear information transparency.
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