Warhead & Weapons Development

Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 6/12/2015 Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) this week blocked a proposed amendment to the Senate version of the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act that would have prevented the Obama Administration from moving forward with a plan to accelerate dismantlement of retired nuclear weapons. Using a procedural move during floor debate […]

NNSA Says Issue Does Not Pose Risks to Workers or Public Mike Nartker NS&D Monitor 5/29/2015 The National Nuclear Security Administration released new details this week as to what led the agency to declare a “Code Blue” at the Pantex Plant. “A new hazard scenario was identified associated with use of the containers used to […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration released new details yesterday as to what led the agency to declare a “Code Blue” at the Pantex Plant. “A new hazard scenario was identified associated with use of the containers used to package specific explosive components,” NNSA spokeswoman Shelley Laver said in a written response to Weapons Complex Morning […]

Mike Nartker NS&D Monitor 5/22/2015 In an apparent sign of problems at the Pantex Plant, the National Nuclear Security Administration has declared a “code blue” at the site. The move came after an “issue or condition” was discovered that could have “significant impact” on B61 and W80 weapons operations, NNSA spokeswoman Shelley Laver said in […]

Lawmakers on the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee cleared their version of the Fiscal Year 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations bill yesterday, and while there is a slight cut for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s weapons program, subcommittee chairman Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) said funding for the agency’s warhead life extension programs has been preserved. […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 3/13/2015 A decision to replace the conventional high explosive (CHE) in the W88 warhead as part of a planned alteration was largely driven by a “problem” with the warhead rather than timing and workforce issues, Nuclear Weapons Council Chairman Frank Kendall told the Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee last week. […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 3/6/2015 National Nuclear Security Administration officials defended the agency’s decision to accelerate work on the W80-4 warhead in questioning this week from Democrats and Republicans on the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, making a case for additional funding for the warhead that will be used on the Air Force’s new […]

National Nuclear Security Administration officials defended the agency’s decision to accelerate work on the W80-4 warhead, which will be used in the Air Force’s new Long-Range Standoff weapon, in questioning yesterday from Democrats and Republicans on the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. The Administration moved up the planned First Production Unit on the cruise […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration has confirmed it is “in the process” of preparing a Supplement Analysis to determine if the agency needs to revise Y-12’s site-wide environmental impact statement at because of changing plans for the Uranium Processing Facility. Steven Wyatt, a spokesman at the NNSA’s Production Office, responded to questions about compliance with […]

Two activist groups—the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance and Nuclear Watch New Mexico—say they have jointly filed Freedom of Information Act requests to force the government to reveal more information about revised plans for the Uranium Processing Facility. According to their news release, the groups are seeking documents known as a Supplement Analysis, which is […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/27/2015 A decision by the Nuclear Weapons Council to “refresh” the conventional high explosives (CHE) in the W88 warhead as part of a previously planned replacement of the warhead’s arming, fuzing and firing mechanism will push back the completion of a First Production Unit on the Navy portion of a planned […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 After keeping its plans quiet for weeks, Babcock & Wilcox said today that it is bidding for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Kansas City National Security Campus management-and-operating contract. B&W led teams that ran the NNSA’s Y-12 and Pantex plants up until last year, but after its defeat to Bechtel-led […]

Staff Reports NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 Plans for a newly scaled-back Uranium Processing Facility received largely positive reviews from officials this week at the Seventh Annual Nuclear Deterrence Summit, held in Washington, as officials expressed optimism that the project could stay within its $6.5 billion cost cap. The UPF, which has yet to begin construction, has […]

Staff Reports NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the new chairman of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which controls much of the Department of Energy’s funding, said last week that he expects to rely on Defense Secretary Ashton Carter for advice on the Uranium Processing Facility and other topics associated with nuclear […]

Bids are due today for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Kansas City National Security Campus, and industry officials expect only one company to submit a proposal: incumbent contractor Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies. Honeywell was the only company to send representatives to a preproposal conference and site tour last month, fueling speculation that the NNSA […]

FPU for Cruise Missile Warhead Required in 2025 According to Compromise Bill Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 12/5/2014 House and Senate authorizers have agreed to language in the recently completed compromise version of the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Authorization Act that would require a First Production Unit be completed on a new air-launched nuclear cruise missile […]

House and Senate authorizers have agreed to language in the recently completed compromise version of the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Authorization Act that would require a First Production Unit be completed on a new air-launched nuclear cruise missile warhead by 2025, reversing plans by the Administration to delay the warhead until 2027. House and Senate […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 9/26/2014 The Nuclear Weapons Council quietly selected the W80 warhead last month for use in the new long-range standoff weapon (LRSO), a National Nuclear Security Administration spokesman confirmed to NS&D Monitor this week. The W80 is the warhead currently used on the Air Force’s air-launched cruise missile, and it was picked […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 9/5/2014 Later this month, the Army Corps of Engineers will turn over the High Explosives Pressing Facility to Pantex contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security, kicking off an extensive testing and readiness period that is expected to last another two years. But there is hope, among both the National Nuclear Security Administration and […]

The Army Corps of Engineers is expected to turn the High Explosives Pressing Facility over to Pantex Plant contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security later this month, and Corps officials say construction of the facility is expected to cost $66.97 million, just slightly over its $65 million budget. Dan Johnson, the area engineer and administrative contracting officer […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 8/29/2014 Sandia National Laboratories may have trouble meeting neutron generator production requirements in the future, according to a Department of Energy Inspector General report released this week. The audit report calls into question Sandia’s ability to ramp up neutron generator production as requirements for the key nuclear weapons component increase 50 […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 8/29/2014 Construction has been largely completed on the Pantex Plant’s new High Explosives Pressing Facility and Y-12/Pantex contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security is expected to take possession of the building next month, NS&D Monitor has learned. The facility isn’t expected to be immediately operational as it will have to go through rigorous […]

Sandia National Laboratories may have trouble meeting neutron generator production requirements in the future according to a Department of Energy Inspector General report released yesterday. The audit report calls into question the ability of Sandia to ramp up neutron generator production as requirements for the key nuclear weapons component increase 50 percent in Fiscal Year […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 8/22/2014 With Congress raising questions about the Obama Administration’s ‘3+2’ strategy for modernizing the nation’s nuclear arsenal, Strategic Command chief Adm. Cecil Haney last week said he is “very concerned” about the future of the strategy but emphasized its importance. Haney spoke to reporters after a speech at U.S. Strategic Command’s […]

With Congress raising questions about the Obama Administration’s ‘3+2’ strategy for modernizing the nation’s nuclear arsenal, Strategic Command chief Adm. Cecil Haney said he was “very concerned” about the future of the strategy but emphasized its importance. Haney spoke to reporters after a speech at Strategic Command’s Deterrence Symposium yesterday, addressing the ‘3+2’ strategy. Several […]

NS&D Monitor 7/11/2014 NNSA Administrator Klotz Visits Site, Helps With Move New National Nuclear Security Administration chief Frank Klotz made his first visit to the Kansas City Plant this week, and personally helped to complete the NNSA’s move to a new nearby facility. During his visit, Klotz packed the last crate at the Bannister Federal […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 3/28/2014 Budgetary pressure and technical considerations are likely to doom the Obama Administration’s “3+2” strategy for modernizing the nation’s nuclear stockpile, former Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Director Parney Albright said this week. Speaking at George Washington University, Albright said he supported the strategy, which would modernize and consolidate the nation’s nuclear […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/14/2014 Recent surveillance work on the W78 and W88 warheads has revealed that the warheads can be sustained until 2030, allowing the National Nuclear Security Administration to delay work on an interoperable warhead, NNSA weapons program chief Don Cook said this week on the sidelines of the Sixth Annual Nuclear Deterrence […]

Bill Hits Snag Over Carbon Emissions Amendment Controversy, Full Committee Markup Postponed Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 6/20/2014 The Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee cleared its version of the Fiscal Year 2015 Energy and Water Appropriations Act this week, zeroing out funding for work on a refurbished nuclear cruise missile warhead and drawing quick criticism […]

Senior Navy Admiral Says Refreshing High Explosive in Warhead Under Consideration Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 6/20/2014 The Nuclear Weapons Council is currently examining expanding the scope of the W88 Alt 370, debating replacing the conventional high explosive as part of an effort to replace the arming, fusing and firing mechanism on the warhead, Navy Strategic […]