Tungsten Environment in Steady-State Tokamak (WEST)
Provides critical empirical testing of tungsten divertor components for ITER long-pulse operation.
01 Definition
02 Detailed_Analysis
Formerly Tore Supra, WEST (Tungsten Environment in Steady-state Tokamak) is a medium-sized superconducting tokamak operated by the IRFM at CEA Cadarache. WEST features an actively cooled, all-tungsten divertor and wall configuration designed to test ITER-relevant plasma-facing components under prolonged heat and particle fluxes. In February 2025, WEST demonstrated its steady-state capabilities by sustaining a record 1,337-second plasma discharge.
03 Key_Facts
- ▸ Superconducting tokamak located at CEA Cadarache, France
- ▸ Equipped with an ITER-grade actively cooled full-tungsten divertor
- ▸ Achieved a milestone 1,337-second long-pulse plasma duration in February 2025
04 Deep_Dive_Intelligence
Intelligence Summary: WEST
Node Identity: WEST is a entity categorized under "MCF" in the france intelligence graph. Tungsten Environment in Steady-state Tokamak, mega-ampere superconducting tokamak at Cadarache with full tungsten plasma-facing components, set world record 1,337s plasma duration in Feb 2025.
Research Evidence: The following findings from 10 research documents reference this entity:
- Bonn is the former capital of West Germany and hosts several German government agencies.
- Iron Beam 450 (newest, unveiled at DSEI 2025): Named for its 450mm aperture — the largest in the family.
- Iron Dome (lowest kinetic tier): Counter rockets, artillery, mortars, and UAVs at 4–70 km range.
- Israel focuses on targeted, high-value technology acquisition to support its own defense industry and maintain qualitative military edge (QME), whereas China employs mass-scale "mosaic" collection for broad industrial modernization, and Russia focuses on military-technical intelligence to support operational planning and counter-Western operations.
- The capture of a Krasukha-4 by Ukraine in 2022 likely provided Western intelligence with detailed understanding of Russian EW capabilities, potentially enabling countermeasures.
- Western nations risk falling behind in this domain if they do not accelerate HPM/EMP hardening and offensive DEW development.
- "Project West Wing" = technical intelligence analysis on space threats 3.
- JSOC MI brigade is the highest tier. Nell activated the Army's newest expeditionary MI brigade supporting XVIII Airborne Corps and JSOC.
Strategic Relevance: WEST is a tracked entity within the france network. With 4 documented connections to other entities, this node plays a significant role in the network topology.
Network Linkage: This entity maintains 4 documented connections in the intelligence network: WEST Supports ITER; WEST Collaborates EUROfusion; CEA Operates WEST; IRFM Operates WEST.
Source Documents: Evidence compiled from: FINDINGS_FROM_research-prompts-round10.md, FINDINGS_FROM_research-prompts-round102.md, FINDINGS_FROM_research-prompts-round108.md, FINDINGS_FROM_research-prompts-round11.md, FINDINGS_FROM_research-prompts-round110.md, FINDINGS_FROM_research-prompts-round22.md, FINDINGS_FROM_research-prompts-round23.md, FINDINGS_FROM_research-prompts-round24.md, FINDINGS_FROM_research-prompts-round28.md, FINDINGS_FROM_research-prompts-round32.md.
07 Related_Entities (3)
08 Timeline_Mentions (10)
Zamora Socorro incident (April 24, 1964): police officer, egg-shaped object on legs, two beings, Blue Book 'unknown,' helped convince Hynek
Socorro NM police officer. Egg-shaped object on girderlike legs. Two beings in white overalls. Red insignia. Physical traces: holes, burns, metal scrapings. Blue Book 'unknown.' Multi-agency (Army/AF/
uap-researchHynek 'The UFO Experience' (1972) + CUFOS (1973): Close Encounters classification, 22-year Blue Book advisor, 'ridicule is not scientific method'
Astronomer. Scientific advisor Sign/Grudge/Blue Book (1947-1969). 'Close Encounters' classification. CUFOS 1973. 'Ridicule not scientific method.' 11% astronomers saw UFOs. Vallée mentor. Northwestern
uap-researchFifth Symposium on the Physics and Technology of Compact Toroids
Hosted by Mathematical Sciences Northwest (MSNW), this workshop addressed FRC and Spheromak formation, focusing on slower generation methods and scaling to reactor sizes.
fusion-physicsSoviet Thread-3 Reverse-Engineering Program Begins
Thread-3 was the Soviet Union's sophisticated reverse-engineering initiative, formally tasked against four domains that would later be replicated exactly by the American AAWSAP DIRDs. The program conc
programKrasik Emigrates to Israel
Professor Yakov Krasik moves from the Soviet Union to the Weizmann Institute of Science, facilitating the transfer of Soviet pulsed power expertise to the West.
personnelGallaudet 'URGENT SAFETY OF FLIGHT' UAP email (Jan 2015) — USS Theodore Roosevelt, over-classification culture
Rear Admiral received urgent UAP email on Navy secure network during carrier exercise. Over-classification suppressed it. Never signed NDA. Now advocates for ocean UAP research.
uap-researchMSNW LLC public funding cessation
MSNW LLC ceases receiving public federal funding; work likely absorbed into classified program.
defense-programsMSNW LLC Transitions to Classified Funding
Dr. John Slough's MSNW LLC ceases public SBIR awards and transitions to a secure development environment.
historical-contextMSNW LLC Classified Transition
MSNW LLC ceases public funding (over $8.3M) and transitions to a secure, classified funding stream for FRC propulsion development.
defense-programsThe "Gray Track" Goes Dark
All public federal funding to MSNW LLC abruptly ceased. The last major public appearance of the "Fusion Driven Rocket" concept was in June, when Dr. Anthony Pancotti provided congressional testimony i
09 FAQ
What is Tungsten Environment in Steady-State Tokamak (WEST)? ▾
Why does Tungsten Environment in Steady-State Tokamak (WEST) matter? ▾
When did Tungsten Environment in Steady-State Tokamak (WEST) appear in the research timeline? ▾
Which entities are associated with Tungsten Environment in Steady-State Tokamak (WEST)? ▾
Is there a detailed dossier for Tungsten Environment in Steady-State Tokamak (WEST)? ▾
Quick_Facts
- Category
- Facilities
- Aliases
- Tungsten Environment in Steady-State Tokamak (WEST), tungsten-environment-in-steady-state-tokamak-west, WEST, west, Tungsten Environment in Steady-state Tokamak, Tore Supra (former name)
- Sources
- 0
- Graph Entities
- 3
- Timeline Events
- 10