U.S., Russia exchange nuclear data

WASHINGTON, March 22 (UPI) -- A senior U.S. official confirmed Russia and the United States have begun exchanging nuclear stockpile information under the new arms reduction treaty.

Rose Gottemoeller, assistant secretary of state for arms control, said the U.S. Nuclear Risk Reduction Center sent its database to Russia last weekend, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported Tuesday.

The database transmitted to the Russians included information on missiles, launchers, heavy bombers and warheads, she said.

The new arms control agreement between the United States and Russia was signed in April 2010 and replaces the expired START 1 agreement.

The new treaty, which came into force Feb. 5, calls for the first information exchange to take place within 45 days and on-site inspections to begin after 60 days.

The treaty trims the arsenal of both nations to 1,550 nuclear warheads from the current ceiling of 2,200.