Issues of Verification and Attestation of Software Programs Used for Calculations of Research Reactors

In the process of developing software programs involved in the process of safety justification of nuclear facilities, there are requirements both to the functionality of the software programs and to their verification. These requirements are based on the necessity to verify their correct operation through the verification process, in addition to ensuring that the functionality of the software meets the safety needs of nuclear facilities. The article considers the main requirements of the federal laws and regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation associated with the attestation and verification of software programs used in research nuclear facilities. It analyses both the attestation process and approaches, as well as programs that require attestation. Recent trends and challenges in the field of validation and verification are discussed, and practical recommendations for validation activities in the research reactor context are offered.