Nuclear Weapons: The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program
Abstract
Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the l97Os and l98Os and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet they 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 11 years without nuclear testing. In the FY2OO5 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress provided 59 million to initiate the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program. The program will study trading off key Cold War features such as high yield and low weight to gain features more valuable now, such as lower cost, greater ease of manufacture, and a future increase in use control. It plans to make these improvements by designing replacement warheads that would not add military capability. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which operates the U. S. nuclear weapons program, views RRW as part of a comprehensive plan that would also modernize the nuclear weapons complex (the Complex), avoid nuclear testing, and reduce non-deployed weapons. The Nuclear Weapons Council, a joint NNSA-Department of Defense organization that coordinates nuclear weapons matters, is conducting a competition for an RRW design, the winning design is likely to be selected in December 2006. The FY2006 appropriation was $25.0 million; the FY2007 request is $27.7 million; and the FY2008 request is 588.8 million for NNSA and $30.0 for the Navy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 08, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA462500
Entities
People
- Jonathan E. Medalia
Organizations
- Library of Congress