Nuclear Weapons: The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program

Abstract

Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1980s, and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet warheads deteriorate and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP) replaces components. Modifying some components would require a nuclear test, but a test moratorium is in effect. Therefore, LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. Using this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past nine years without nuclear testing.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 09, 2006
Accession Number
ADA453639

Entities

People

  • Jonathan E. Medalia

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arms Control
  • Environment
  • Explosions
  • Explosives
  • Fleet Ballistic Missiles
  • Insensitive Explosives
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Materials
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • United States Strategic Command
  • Weapons Effects

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security
  • Software Engineering