Reliable Replace Warhead Executive Summary

Abstract

NNSA tasked JASON to conduct a technical review of the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW), with a focus on the LLNL/Sandia design, now calledWR1. This report summarizes our ndings and recommendations. The design of a new warhead, without new nuclear explosive tests, relies on the scienti c connections and traceability of that design to (1) the legacy nuclear explosive test data, (2) established physics, and (3) new and ongoing experiments. The WR1 design is pursued with these principles in mind, but certi cation is not yet assured. The certi cation plan presented needs further development. For example, additional experiments and analyses are needed that explore failure modes, and assess the impact on performance of new manufacturing processes. Substantial work remains on the physical understanding of the surety mechanisms that are of high priority to the RRW program. Establishing that the case for con dence in any RRW has been satisfactorily made will require a new peer review process. In addition to certi cation issues, it is too early to assess how the WR1 will impact the modernization and streamlining of NNSA s production complex.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 07, 2007
Accession Number
ADA472483

Entities

Organizations

  • MITRE Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Computer Simulations
  • Executives
  • Explosive Testing
  • Explosives
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Manufacturing
  • Materials
  • Nuclear Warheads
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Performance Tests
  • Simulations
  • Stockpiles
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Facilities
  • Warheads
  • Weapons

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