W78 warhead. Design of the W87 (now called the W87 Mod 0 or W87-0) started in February 1982 at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and production of the warhead began in July 1986 and ended in December 1988. The life-extension program (LEP) for the W78 warhead (above left) will evaluate options for refurbishing the nuclear weapon to address issues identified with aging components. Since 2010, the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) have sought to replace the capabilities of the W78 nuclear warhead that is carried on the Air Force’s intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). W78 Systems Engineering W78 Systems Engineering (W-3) is the Laboratory knowledge focal point of the ICBM community, within both the National Nuclear Science Administration (NNSA) and the United States Air Force. It is based on its W50 warhead design, with a diameter of 21. Minuteman III initially carried the older W62 warhead with a yield of 170 kilotonnes of TNT (710 TJ), but starting in December 1979 and ending in Sep 9, 2020 · The National Nuclear Security Administration plans to replace the W78—an older type of nuclear warhead used in intercontinental ballistic missiles—with the W87-1, starting in 2030. Minuteman III initially carried the older W62 warhead with a yield of 170 kilotonnes of TNT (710TJ), but starting in December 1979 and ending in February W87-1 The Modification that Invigorated an Enterprise Lawrence Livermore will deliver the first newly manufactured nuclear warhead in three decades, which will replace the aging W78, meet military requirements, improve safety and security, and transform the Nuclear Security Enterprise through innovative collaborations. Dec 6, 2010 · A white paper describes plans for a joint warhead. Oct 4, 2024 · The US has produced the first plutonium pit in 35 years for the W87-1 warhead, marking a milestone in restoring nuclear warhead production. That effort enhanced the structural integrity of the warhead and extended its life by 30 years. ” Specifically, the study will consider using one common warhead to replace the W-78 and the SLBM-based W-88, which is scheduled to follow the W-78 in the LEP queue. The U. 8 billion, which could make it In August 2018, the Nuclear Weapons Council (NWC) directed the restart of the W78 warhead replacement program and established the name W87-1 for the warhead. S. The secondary (top) is forward of the larger primary (bottom). According to the figure below from the FY2011 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan Summary, the LEP is supposed to start this f In August 2018, the Nuclear Weapons Council (NWC) directed the restart of the W78 warhead replacement program and established the name W87-1 for the warhead. With this direction, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) is no longer planning for an interoperable warhead program as previously conceived. Pending further study, this replacement warhead may also be used in Navy submarine launched ballistic missiles. NNSA’s modernization efforts address aging, unavailability of certain replacement parts, potential deterrence gaps, and integration with DoD’s modernized nuclear weapons delivery systems without the The W78 is an American thermonuclear warhead with an estimated yield of 335–350 kilotonnes of TNT (1,400–1,460 TJ), deployed on the LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and housed in the Mark 12A reentry vehicle. NUCLEAR WEAPONS STOCKPILE All nuclear weapons in the U. stockpile are designated as either a warhead (W) or a bomb (B). The W78 is nearing the end of its functional Dec 6, 2010 · A white paper describes plans for a joint warhead. Oct 1, 2020 · Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers passed their first program level key milestone in the W87-1 Modification Program (W87-1 Mod) on Sept. W78 warheads are contained inside the MK12-A reentry vehicles of the LGM-30G Minuteman III. 7 inches, and its weight is approximately 700 to 800 pounds. But it's unclear if NNSA can produce enough of the W87-1's fissile cores in time to meet its planned production schedule. The W78 is an American thermonuclear warhead with an estimated yield of 335–350 kilotonnes of TNT (1,400–1,460 TJ), deployed on the LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and housed in the Mark 12A reentry See full list on nuclearweaponarchive. Mar 8, 2019 · The W87-1 is a warhead replacement for the legacy W78, which will fly on the U. By Hans M. 1 Weapons that have different engineering requirements because they must interface with a launch platform or delivery vehicle are called warheads. The goal is to produce the first W78 replacement warhead in fiscal year 2030. Kristensen The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has sent Congress a white paper describing plans for extending the life of the W78 warhead on the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). 1 Introduced in 1979, the W78 is the oldest weapon in the U. 3 inches, height of 67. In 2004, Lawrence Livermore successfully completed NNSA’s first LEP, refurbishing the W87. Weapons that do not have these interface requirements, such as gravity bombs and retired atomic demolition munitions (ADM), are Jun 5, 2025 · Credit to: U. According to the paper, W78 Life Extension Program Description and Work Scope, […] The W87 warhead. (Courtesy of Department of Defense. ) W78 The W78 thermonuclear warhead is the warhead used on most of the United States LGM - 30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), along with the MK - 12A reentry vehicle which carried the warhead. Mar 9, 2011 · As described in the NPR, the W-78 LEP study will consider the “possibility of using the resulting warhead also on multiple platforms in order to reduce the number of warhead types. The W87-1 will have an insensitive high explosive primary and will not require additional nuclear testing. Nov 30, 2018 · The National Nuclear Security Administration is preparing to restart a program to replace the W78 nuclear warhead, which is used in Air Force intercontinental ballistic missiles. W-3 also houses individuals with critical knowledge of NNSA SS-21 process. Air Force deploys the W78 warhead in its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which are dispersed in hardened silos (left) to protect against attack. The W87-1 Mod will replace the W78 thermonuclear warhead with a modified design of the W87 warhead. Air Force's Ground Based Strategic Deterrent by FY 2030. According to the paper, W78 Life Extension Program Description and Work Scope, […] Apr 16, 2017 · W78 The W78 warhead, used on the Minuteman III, had seven flight tests (of the eight planned) between 1992 and 1996. This knowledge includes aspects associated with the W78/MK12A weapon, the W62/Mk12, and W87/Mk21 weapons. Declassified The W78 is an American thermonuclear warhead with an estimated yield of 335–350 kilotonnes of TNT (1,400–1,460TJ), deployed on the LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and housed in the Mark 12A reentry vehicle. Drawing of the Mark 12A re-entry vehicle that houses the W78 warhead. S . Olsen, who oversees and manages the Los Alamos–designed and –maintained W78 system, has supported several full-scale flight tests for the warhead. org The W78 warhead was designed and manufactured by the Los Alamos National Laboratory, LANL. [2] Its design is reportedly somewhat similar to the W88, though that warhead was designed at Los Alamos National Overview NNSA’s warhead modernization activities ensure that the U. DOE and the national laboratory officials told us that a flight test with Mar 9, 2011 · The Department of Energy (DOE) is planning a life extension program (LEP) for the W-78 warhead, some 250 of which are currently deployed on 200 Minuteman III missiles. Air Force “Flight tests are where it all comes together,” says Brian Olsen, the W87 warhead manager at Los Alamos National Laboratory. nuclear weapons stockpile continues to meet Department of Defense (DoD) requirements while enhancing safety and security. NNSA has taken steps in W87-1 MODIFICATION PROGRAM The W87-1 will replace the aging W78 warhead to maintain safety, security, and effectiveness of the ICBM leg of the nuclear triad. The W78 will be the fourth nuclear weapon system to undergo refurbishment. Minuteman III ' s initially deployed with the older W62 warhead, the W78 was deployed starting in December 1979 onto 300 missiles, three warheads per missile. NNSA estimated that the new warhead could cost up to $14. 24, keeping the program on schedule despite work stoppages due to the COVID-19 pandemic.