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 with age, and must be maintained. The current approach monitors them for signs of aging. When problems are found, a Life Extension Program (LEP) rebuilds components. While some can be made to new specifications, a nuclear test moratorium bars that approach for critical components that would require a nuclear test. Instead, LEP rebuilds them 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
Jun 23, 2005
Accession Number
ADA472905

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
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Environment
  • Explosions
  • Explosives
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Insensitive Explosives
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Science
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Bombs
  • Nuclear Materials
  • Nuclear Warheads
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • United States Strategic Command
  • Weapons Effects

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security
  • Software Engineering.