Prototyping
Abstract
The Air-delivered Nuclear Delivery System (NDS-A) is a new start project to address a capability gap identified in the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR). A congressionally directed study based on the NPR led to endorsement of the Deputy's Management Action Group (DMAG) and initiation of this project. The Air Force will work with the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and its National Laboratories to develop a prototype NDS-A system to demonstrate the capability to close this gap in the near term. Development of the prototype will include contractors outside the traditional NNSA production agencies to produce developmental hardware and avoid impacting nuclear warhead programs of record (POR). The project will require close USAF/DOE interagency coordination to produce a prototype that will enable rapid transition to a fielded system. Early development will include Model and Simulation (M&S) analysis of several nuclear explosive package (NEP) options to refine the proposed NEP. The NDS-A system must meet nuclear weapon environmental standards from storage to weapon detonation, while meeting reliability and target defeat requirements. The USAF will provide test resources to include ground test facilities, F-15E test aircraft, and B-2 test aircraft, and will work with the aircraft Program Offices to identify aircraft integration requirements including any potential Operational Flight Program (OFP) software and hardware changes. USAF will procure and provide NNSA with components necessary to produce Environmental Test Units (ETUs) to capture the basic environments the NEP will be exposed to, as well as Joint Test Assets (JTAs) for high fidelity ground and air tests. Ground tests may include wind tunnel, static ejection, vibration and thermal, cable pull-down, and sled tests. Flight tests will be performed by USAF F-15E developmental flight test aircraft, with final prototype demonstrations flown on B-2 aircraft. Considerations in the development of the prototype will include nuclear surety, maintenance and logistics, refinement of requirements (military characteristics), and producibility. After successful flight test demonstration of the prototype, the program will mature developmental hardware to nuclear system "diamond stamp” quality, ensure nuclear surety standards are met, and mature aircraft interfaces including Aircraft Monitor and Control (AMAC) functions. This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 653360_0604336F_5_3600_PB_2025
Related Documents
- Root: Hard and Deeply Buried Target Defeat System (HDBTDS) Prototyping
- Child Accomplishment: Air-delivered Nuclear Delivery System (NDS-A)
- Child Cost Item: a1b48ebe17a5179d283397062c42155b
- Child Cost Item: bfed2307bd5802f80219d2e526f94b15
- Child Cost Item: f697be19054c9935f1b7e848360dc86b
- Child Cost Item: 624a85c7ebff53e882be147e5f85ebb4
- Child Cost Item: 3c8d91a9a4f4415b653c259522fdd9de
- Child Cost Item: 2384ff5a45c0983218eb79068678fe49
- Child Cost Item: 7c67ba07ec4ab728641045231524300a
- Child Cost Item: a985be45147b8331d26b9c7223cf2a67
- Child Cost Item: dc57f1b36df73f480389858dacf86052
- Child Cost Item: b7492ded481a88af511dd01f145386b4
- Child Cost Item: 5c621af01822343398d3acfbc0533a90
- Child Cost Item: 9dae85ef6b51d69e4b338c79f8a4071f
- Child Cost Item: ae7072764e16f91957583393020cfe5d
- Child Cost Item: a46a10bbbceaabf05f435d2416070188
- Child Cost Item: e2ce1566ec6b799ab5f5be9b31547064
- Child Cost Item: 4e84aa60aa6daaf6e2f54f24ebf59633
- Child Cost Item: 69705d37a2047fd4b42965b3f462b0bb