Energy Department not sending ‘laser tag’ combat trainers to Russia

The Department of Energy will not be providing Russia with a “laser tag” combat training program.

On Tuesday, a group of 18 Republican lawmakers wrote to Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz saying they were alarmed that the Department of Energy planned in its 2015 budget request to send Russia the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES), which uses lasers to simulate ground combat.

{mosads}The House members urged the secretary to drop the department’s plans to provide the combat training system.

But Energy Department press secretary Bill Gibbons said Wednesday that the department has already decided not to give Russia the MILES program.

“The FY15 budget request was developed long before the current situation with Russia unfolded,” Gibbons said in a statement. “While we appreciate the Members’ attention to this sensitive issue, as part of our own ongoing internal review of Russian-related activities, the Department has already determined that we will not be requesting funds for this project at this time.”

The program in question is part of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Material Protection Control and Accounting program, which is designed to increase the security of vulnerable stockpiles of nuclear weapons and materials.