1958 - 1990

A New Type of Weapon: Directed Energy

A moratorium on nuclear testing in 1958 between the US, UK, and Soviet Union significantly impacted Special Weapons Center activities here at Kirtland. The limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty which followed in 1962 prohibited similar tests. Lab scientists and engineers had to simulate nuclear effects using high-powered microwaves and other forms of Directed Energy. Directly because of the test ban treaty, the Air Force Weapons Laboratory was established here at Kirtland in May 1963 to engage in research and development of blast simulation techniques, since full-scale testing was no longer possible in atmospheric, space, or underwater environments.