The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration conducts a successful underground, non-nuclear chemical high-explosive experiment at the Nevada National Security Site on September 30, 2026. The test aims to improve U.S. capabilities to detect "decoupled" nuclear explosions, which muffle seismic signatures. The experiment is directly linked to U.S. allegations that China conducted a secret decoupled nuclear test at Lop Nur in June 2020, an accusation Beijing denies.
Details of the Nevada experiment
- ▪The Nevada National Security Site experiment allowed researchers to gather measurements using advanced sensors, including accelerometers, seismometers, infrasound sensors, electromagnetic sensors, chemical and radiotracer samplers, and meteorological sensors.
- ▪The Nevada National Security Site experiment focused on improving U.S. capabilities to detect a decoupled explosion, detonated inside a large, empty air-filled chamber instead of solid rock, reducing seismic signatures to make explosions appear smaller.
- ▪The September 30, 2026, experiment was conducted in the P Tunnel in Area 12 at the Nevada National Security Site, located approximately 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
- ▪The Nevada National Security Site experiment used chemical high-explosives and radiotracers to collect data to validate scientific models and refine algorithms for nuclear explosion detection.
- ▪The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration conducted a successful underground, non-nuclear chemical high-explosive experiment on September 30, 2026, at the Nevada National Security Site.
Allegations regarding China's June 2020 test
- ▪The international nuclear-test monitoring body stated that available seismic data cannot establish the cause of the suspected June 2020 events in China with confidence.
- ▪The United States alleged that China conducted a decoupled secret nuclear test on June 22, 2020, at its Lop Nur nuclear test site to decrease the effectiveness of seismic monitoring.
- ▪China denied the U.S. allegations regarding a June 2020 nuclear test, calling the claims entirely unfounded and an attempt to fabricate excuses for resuming U.S. nuclear testing.
Accusations of Chinese test ban violations
- ▪Under Secretary of State Thomas DiNanno accused China of conducting nuclear weapons tests that achieved supercritical yields and preparing for tests with designated yields in the hundreds of tons.
- ▪Under Secretary of State Thomas DiNanno stated that the Chinese military used decoupling to limit seismic monitoring and conceal nuclear explosions that violated test ban commitments.
U.S. plans to resume nuclear testing
- ▪President Donald Trump announced in October 2025 that he instructed the Pentagon to immediately resume nuclear testing on an equal basis with China and Russia, though no such U.S. tests have occurred.
- ▪Under Secretary of State Thomas DiNanno told Congress on March 24, 2026, that the United States is set to resume underground tests in response to covert Chinese and Russian testing at yield.
Debatable claims
- ▪The Nevada chemical explosion test unnecessarily escalates nuclear tensions with China
- ▪The United States should resume underground nuclear weapons testing
- ▪The United States is justified in accusing China of conducting a secret nuclear test
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