With the return of great power competition, nuclear capabilities are again at the forefront of critical work for the Intelligence Community. Click the links for facts about each program, and read the current Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan for more information.Russian and Chinese Nuclear Modernization Trendsįirst, let me thank the Hudson Institute for hosting this event and the opportunity to speak about Russian and Chinese nuclear modernization trends. There are several major programs underway today. See Our Locations for information about what kind of work is conducted at each of the nuclear security enterprise facilities. What's the difference between a Life Extension Program, a Modification, and an Alteration? Learn more at this link.Įach facility in NNSA's nuclear security enterprise contributes to these programs. An alteration may address identified defects and component obsolescence, however it does not change a weapon’s operational capabilities. An alteration is a limited scope change that affects assembly, tests, maintenance, and/or storage of weapons. NNSA also conducts alterations of weapons at the system, sub-system, or component level to make sure the weapons is safe, secure, and effective. By extending the time that a weapon can safely and reliably remain in the stockpile, NNSA is able to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent without producing new weapons or conducting underground nuclear explosive tests. Life extension programs also require NNSA to certify the weapon’s protected period, its new lifetime, for 20 to 30 years. When planning life extension programs, NNSA must develop specific solutions to extend the lifetime of each weapon type because each is unique. A life extension program comprehensively analyzes all of a weapon’s components and determines whether to reuse, refurbish or replace them to extend the service life of the weapon.Ĭlick here to learn more about the weapons life cycle. These life extensions address aging and performance issues, enhance safety features, and improve security.Īs with any complex mechanical system, components in nuclear weapons degrade over time, even when kept in storage. The Stockpile Stewardship Program enables NNSA to extend the lifespan and ensure the continued safety, reliability, and effectiveness of weapons that have reached the end of their original design life through life extension programs. In a joint collaboration, NNSA is working to accelerate delivery of a capable exascale computing ecosystem for breakthroughs in scientific discovery, energy assurance, economic competitiveness, and national security through the Exascale Computing Project. Its 25-year record of accomplishments is here. By continually developing and deploying credible, science-based simulation tools to certify the current and future stockpile, the program assures confidence in the nation’s nuclear deterrent. The Advanced Simulation and Computing program’s high-performance simulation and computing capabilities inform critical Stockpile Stewardship decisions. Read more about high-performance computing at this link. Advanced technology systems are delivered to weapon physicists and engineers as tri-laboratory resources, to take on the most challenging simulation problems of the day: NNSA delivers leading-edge computer platforms, sophisticated physics and engineering codes, and uniquely qualified staff to support addressing a wide variety of stockpile issues for design, physics certification, engineering qualification, and production. The stockpile will continue to be assessed to ensure it remains safe, secure, and effective. nuclear stockpile will be sustained and modernized through vigorous surveillance, assessment, life extension, and dismantlement efforts. Some limited number of components from the dismantled warheads are preserved for potential reuse in Life Extension Programs, but most are disposed of in compliance with current directives. Stockpile Stewardship and Management includes the role to safely dismantle and dispose of components from warheads that have been retired. Joint Test Assembly Flight tests performed jointly by the applicable Department of Defense military service and NNSA are one of the most important data sources used to support assessment of the nuclear weapon stockpile. nuclear stockpile requires routine maintenance, periodic repair, replacement of limited life components, and surveillance (a thorough examination of a weapon) in order to ensure continued safety, security, and effectiveness and other support activities as necessary. These activities allow NNSA to meet today’s military and national security requirements. NNSA continually assesses and evaluates each nuclear weapon to determine its reliability and to detect and anticipate any potential issues that may result from aging, from concept to production to retirement.
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