Nuclear Weapons: NNSA has Taken Steps to Prepare to Restart a Program to Replace the W78 Warhead Capability

Abstract

The Department of Defense and NNSA have sought for nearly a decade to replace the capabilities of the aging W78 nuclear warhead used by the U.S. Air Force. NNSA undertakes LEPs to refurbish or replace the capabilities of nuclear weapons components. In fiscal year 2014, NNSA was directed to suspend a program that was evaluating a capability that could replace the W78 and also be used by the U.S. Navy. NNSA's most recent estimate - reported in October 2018 - was that the combined program would cost about $10 billion to $15 billion. NNSA has been directed by the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review to restart a program to replace the W78 for the Air Force in fiscal year 2019. The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review also directed NNSA and the Navy to further evaluate whether the Navy could also use the warhead. Senate report 115-125 included a provision for GAO to review NNSA's progress on the program to replace the W78. GAO's report describes NNSA's steps in key early planning areas - including program management, technology assessment, and coordination with facilities and capabilities - to prepare to restart a program to replace the W78. GAO reviewed documentation on areas such as program management, technologies, and facilities needed for the program, and interviewed NNSA and DOD officials.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2018
Accession Number
AD1167968

Entities

People

  • Allison B. Bawden

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Air Force
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Best Practices
  • Congress
  • Cost Estimates
  • Department Of Defense
  • Engineering
  • Explosives
  • Fabrication
  • Governments
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Manufacturing
  • Materials
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Warheads
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Production Engineering
  • Program Management
  • Systems Engineering
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Weapon Control

Readers

  • Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security