The
primary goal of the W76-1 LEP is to extend the life of the Submarine
Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) W76 warhead and to complete production
no later than the end of fiscal year 2021.
Highlights:
The W76-0 warhead is a 1970s-era
submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) system that was first
introduced into the stockpile by the Navy in 1978.
The W76
warhead continues to serve a key role in the submarine-launched
ballistic missile force structure of the U.S. nuclear deterrent’s triad.
The
W76 warhead is deployed by the U.S. Navy with the Trident II D5 missile
on the Ohio class nuclear ballistic missile submarines.
The
primary goals of the W76-1 Life Extension Program are to extend the
original warhead service life from 20 to 60 years, address identified
aging issues,), incorporate nuclear surety enhancements and minimize
system certification risk in the absence of underground nuclear testing
and refurbish the system in a managed affordable manner.
NNSA’s
Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories designed
the original W76-0 warhead, and are the design agencies for the
refurbished W76-1 warhead.
The W76-1 Life Extension Program
involves engineers, scientists, and technicians from the Pantex Plant,
Y-12 National Security Complex, Savannah River Site, Kansas City Plant,
Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.
The
warhead assembly and disassembly processes utilize the rigid Seamless
Safety for the 21st Century (SS-21) process at the Pantex
Plant. NNSA’s SS-21 process fully integrates the weapon system with
the facility, tooling, operating procedures, and personnel involved to
form a safe, efficient, and effective operating environment.
The
refurbishment program’s First Production Unit was achieved in September
2008 and the first delivery of warheads to the Navy for deployment was
completed in 2009.
The NNSA has delivered each year that the LEP
has been in production, including meeting our FY 2012 goals for units
delivered to the Navy.