The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program: Background and Current Developments
Abstract
Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1970s and 1980s and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet they deteriorate and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP), part of a larger Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), replaces components. Modifying some components would require a nuclear test, but the United States has observed a test moratorium since 1992, because Congress and the Administration prefer to avoid a return to testing, so LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. With this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past 11 years without nuclear testing. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) operates the nuclear weapons program; it sees RRW as part of a plan that would also modernize the nuclear weapons complex, avoid nuclear testing, and reduce non-deployed weapons. For FY2005, Congress provided $9.0 million, which was not requested, to start the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program. In action on subsequent requests, the FY2006 RRW appropriation was $24.8 million, the FY2007 operating plan has $35.8 million, and the FY2008 request is $88.8 million for NNSA and $30.0 million for the Navy. H.R. 1585, the FY2008 defense authorization bill, as passed by the House, reduces NNSA s request by $20.0 million and the Navy request by $25.0 million. As passed by the House, H.R. 2641, the FY2008 energy-water appropriations bill, and H.R. 3222, the FY2008 defense appropriations bill, zeroed NNSA and Navy RRW funds, respectively. The Senate Armed Services Committee recommended reducing the Navy RRW request by $15.0 million. It said NNSA s RRW request included $238.1 million, and recommended reducing that by $43.0 million.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 18, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA472648
Entities
People
- Jonathan E. Medalia
Organizations
- Library of Congress