ABC News Online : : Bush seeks cash for bunker-buster nukes.
Under this administration, the US has begun building new types of nuclear weapons.
The budget includes $US4 million to revive a study on bunker-buster nuclear arms, called the "robust nuclear earth penetrator".
Congress killed the study in the fiscal 2005 budget due to concerns that it would hinder international non-proliferation efforts.
The budget includes $US4 million to revive a study on bunker-buster nuclear arms, called the "robust nuclear earth penetrator".
Congress killed the study in the fiscal 2005 budget due to concerns that it would hinder international non-proliferation efforts.
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Bush seeks cash for bunker-buster nukes
United States President George W Bush has included spending to promote research on new nuclear weapons, such as controversial bunker-busters, in his federal budget plan for the 2006 fiscal year.
The spending is part of his proposed outlays related to nuclear arms.
President Bush requested $US6.63 billion for nuclear weapons activities at the Energy Department, which maintains and develops nuclear warheads, up 0.7 per cent from the current 2005 fiscal year.
The budget includes $US4 million to revive a study on bunker-buster nuclear arms, called the "robust nuclear earth penetrator".
Congress killed the study in the fiscal 2005 budget due to concerns that it would hinder international non-proliferation efforts.
The Bush administration began researching bunker-buster nuclear weapons in 2003.
They are aimed at attacking underground facilities such as terrorist hideouts and stashes of biological and chemical weapons.
Congressional sources say Mr Bush's budget plan for the Defence Department also includes $US4.5 million to conduct an inert-bomb test as part of the research.
Mr Bush did not include spending for his advanced nuclear initiative, which he had requested until fiscal 2005, apparently due to strong opposition among lawmakers.
It envisions the development of ''mini-nuclear'' bombs with an explosive yield of less than 5 kilotons.
The bunker-busters and ''mini-nuclear'' bombs form the core of the Bush administration's policy to develop ready-for-use nuclear arms.
Mr Bush also plans to spend $US9 million on research mainly to lighten warheads for existing nuclear weapons and enhance their destructive powers to strengthen nuclear deterrence.
The proposed nuclear budget also incorporates $US25 million to shorten the preparation time to resume nuclear tests to 18 months from the current two to three years.
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