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The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program background and current developments

Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1970s and 1980s and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet they deteriorate and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP), part of a larger Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), replaces components. Modifying some components would require a nuclear test, but the United States has observed a test moratorium since 1992 so LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. With this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past 11 years without nuclear testing. In the FY2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress provided $9 million to initiate the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program. The program trades key Cold War features such as high yield and low weight to gain features more valuable now, such as lower cost and improved use control. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which operates the U.S. nuclear weapons program, views RRW as part of a plan that would also modernize the nuclear weapons complex (the Complex), avoid nuclear testing, and reduce non-deployed weapons. The Nuclear Weapons Council, a joint NNSA-Department of Defense organization that coordinates nuclear weapons matters, conducted a competition for an RRW design, with the winning design selected in March 2007.

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  • "CRS report for Congress"@en

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  • "Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1970s and 1980s and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet they deteriorate and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP), part of a larger Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), replaces components. Modifying some components would require a nuclear test, but the United States has observed a test moratorium since 1992 so LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. With this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past 11 years without nuclear testing. In the FY2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress provided $9 million to initiate the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program. The program trades key Cold War features such as high yield and low weight to gain features more valuable now, such as lower cost and improved use control. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which operates the U.S. nuclear weapons program, views RRW as part of a plan that would also modernize the nuclear weapons complex (the Complex), avoid nuclear testing, and reduce non-deployed weapons. The Nuclear Weapons Council, a joint NNSA-Department of Defense organization that coordinates nuclear weapons matters, conducted a competition for an RRW design, with the winning design selected in March 2007."@en
  • "Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1970s and 1980s and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet they deteriorate and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP), part of a larger Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), replaces components. Modifying some components would require a nuclear test, but the United States has observed a test moratorium since 1992 so LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. With this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past 11 years without nuclear testing. For FY2005, Congress provided $9 million to start the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program, which trades such Cold War features as high yield and low weight to gain features more valuable now, such as lower cost and improved use control. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which operates the nuclear weapons program, sees RRW as part of a plan that would also modernize the nuclear weapons complex, avoid nuclear testing, and reduce non-deployed weapons. The Nuclear Weapons Council conducted a competition, with the winning RRW design selected in March 2007. The FY2006 RRW appropriation was $24.8 million; the FY2007 operating plan has $35.8 million; and the FY2008 request lists $88.8 million for NNSA and $30.0 million for the Navy. H.R. 1585, the FY2008 defense authorization bill, as passed by the House reduces the NNSA request by $20 million and the Navy request by $25.0 million. The House Appropriations Committee recommended eliminating FY2008 NNSA RRW funds. The Senate Armed Services Committee recommended reducing the Navy RRW request by $15.0 million. It said NNSA s budget request included $238.1 million for RRW, and recommended reducing that amount by $43.0 million."@en
  • "Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1970s and 1980s and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet they deteriorate and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP), part of a larger STockpil Stewardship Program (SSP), replaces components. Modifying some components would require a nuclear test, but the United States has observed a test moratorium since 1992 so LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. With this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past 11 years without nuclear testing."@en
  • "Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1970s and 1980s and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet they deteriorate and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP), part of a larger STockpil Stewardship Program (SSP), replaces components. Modifying some components would require a nuclear test, but the United States has observed a test moratorium since 1992 so LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. With this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past 12 years without nuclear testing."@en
  • "Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1970s and 1980s and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet they deteriorate and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP), part of a larger Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), replaces components. Modifying some components would require a nuclear test, but the United States has observed a test moratorium since 1992. Congress and the Administration prefer to avoid a return to testing, so LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. With this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past 12 years without nuclear testing. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which operates the U.S. nuclear weapons program, would develop the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW). For FY2005, Congress provided an unrequested $9.0 million to start RRW. The FY2006 RRW appropriation was $24.8 million and the FY2007 operating plan had $35.8 million, and the FY2008 request was $88.8 million for NNSA and $30.0 million for the Navy. The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, P.L. 110-116, included $15.0 million for the Navy for RRW. The FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, P.L. 110-161, provided no NNSA funds for RRW. For FY2009, DOE requests $10.0 million for RRW. The Navy requests $23.3 million for RRW but says its request was prepared before Congress eliminated NNSA RRW funds and that these funds would not be used for RRW. The House Armed Services Committee, in its report on H.R. 5658, the FY2009 defense authorization bill, recommended eliminating the Navy and NNSA RRW funds while adding funds for the Navy and NNSA for related purposes. The House defeated an amendment to add $10.0 million in NNSA RRW funds to H.R. 5658. The Senate Armed Services Committee recommended retaining NNSA s request for RRW but eliminating the Navy s request."@en
  • "Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1970s and 1980s and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet they deteriorate and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP), part of a larger Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), replaces components. Modifying some components would require a nuclear test, but the United States has observed a test moratorium since 1992. Congress and the Administration prefer to avoid a return to testing, so LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. With this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past 12 years without nuclear testing. NNSA argues it will become harder to certify current warheads with LEP because small changes may undermine confidence in warheads, perhaps leading to nuclear testing, whereas new-design replacement warheads created by the RRW program will be easier to certify without testing. Critics believe LEP and SSP can maintain the stockpile indefinitely. They worry that untested RRWs may make testing more likely and question cost savings, given high investment cost. They note that there are no military requirements for new weapons. Others feel that neither LEP nor RRW can provide high confidence over the long term, and would resume testing. Another point of view is that either LEP or RRW will work without nuclear testing. This report provides background and tracks legislation. It will be updated to reflect final FY2010 congressional action on RRW. See also CRS Report RL33748, Nuclear Warheads: The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program and the Life Extension Program, by Jonathan Medalia, which compares these two programs in detail."@en
  • "Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1970s and 1980s and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet they deteriorate and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP), part of a larger Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), replaces components. Modifying some components would require a nuclear test, but the United States has observed a test moratorium since 1992, because Congress and the Administration prefer to avoid a return to testing, so LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. With this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past 11 years without nuclear testing. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) operates the nuclear weapons program; it sees RRW as part of a plan that would also modernize the nuclear weapons complex, avoid nuclear testing, and reduce non-deployed weapons. For FY2005, Congress provided $9.0 million, which was not requested, to start the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program. In action on subsequent requests, the FY2006 RRW appropriation was $24.8 million, the FY2007 operating plan has $35.8 million, and the FY2008 request is $88.8 million for NNSA and $30.0 million for the Navy. H.R. 1585, the FY2008 defense authorization bill, as passed by the House, reduces NNSA s request by $20.0 million and the Navy request by $25.0 million. As passed by the House, H.R. 2641, the FY2008 energy-water appropriations bill, and H.R. 3222, the FY2008 defense appropriations bill, zeroed NNSA and Navy RRW funds, respectively. The Senate Armed Services Committee recommended reducing the Navy RRW request by $15.0 million. It said NNSA s RRW request included $238.1 million, and recommended reducing that by $43.0 million."@en
  • "Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1970s and 1980s and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet they deteriorate and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP), part of a larger Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), replaces components. Modifying some components would require a nuclear test, but the United States has observed a test moratorium since 1992, because Congress and the Administration prefer to avoid a return to testing, so LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. With this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past 11 years without nuclear testing. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which operates the U.S. nuclear weapons program, is developing the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW). It expects that RRW would, among other things, make nuclear testing less likely and increase long-term confidence in the U.S. nuclear force. For FY2005, Congress provided an unrequested $9.0 million to start RRW. The FY2006 RRW appropriation was $24.8 million, the FY2007 operating plan has $35.8 million, and the FY2008 request is $88.8 million for NNSA and $30.0 million for the Navy. The conference version of H.R. 1585, the FY2008 defense authorization bill, reduces NNSA and Navy RRW finds to $66.0 million and $15.0 million, respectively; bars RRW from moving from a design and cost study to development engineering in FY2008; and calls for studies on strategic policy and on using existing pits in RRWs. The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, P.L. 110-116, includes $15.0 million for the Navy for RRW. The FY2008 consolidated appropriations bill provides no NNSA finds for RRW."@en
  • "Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 70s and 80s and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP) replaces components. The LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. For FY2005, Congress provided $9 million to start the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program, which trades Cold War features for features more useful now. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) sees RRW as part of a plan that would also modernize the nuclear weapons complex, avoid nuclear testing, and reduce non-deployed weapons. The FY2008 request lists $88.8 million for NNSA and $30.0 million for the Navy. H.R. 1585, the FY2008 defense authorization bill, reduces NNSA request by $20 million and Navy request. H.R. 2641, the FY2008 energy-water appropriations bill, eliminated NNSA RRW funds. The Senate Armed Services Committee recommended reducing the Navy RRW request. The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended reducing the NNSA request. Several committees would keep RRW in Phase 2A (design definition and cost study) in FY2008. NNSA argues that it will become harder to certify current warheads with LEP because small changes may undermine confidence in warheads, while RRW will lead to new-design replacement warheads that will be easier to manufacture and certify without testing. Critics believe LEP and SSP can maintain the stockpile indefinitely. They worry that untested RRWs may make a return to testing more likely. Issues facing the 110th Congress include how best to maintain the nuclear stockpile, whether to continue RRW or cancel it in favor of LEP, and how RRW might link to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and nuclear nonproliferation. This report provides background and tracks legislation. It will be updated often. CRS Report RL33748, Nuclear Warheads: The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program and the Life Extension Program, compares these two programs in detail."@en
  • "Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1970s and 1980s and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet they deteriorate and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP), part of a larger Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), replaces components. Modifying some components would require a nuclear test, but the United States has observed a test moratorium since 1992, because Congress and the Administration prefer to avoid a return to testing, so LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. With this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past 11 years without nuclear testing. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) operates the nuclear weapons program; it sees RRW as part of a plan that would also modernize the nuclear weapons complex, avoid nuclear testing, and reduce non-deployed weapons. For FY2005, Congress provided $9.0 million, which was not requested, to start the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program. Issues facing the 110th Congress include how best to maintain the nuclear stockpile, whether to continue RRW or cancel it in favor of LEP, and how RRW might link to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and nuclear nonproliferation. This report provides background and tracks legislation. It will be updated often. CRS Report RL33748, Nuclear Warheads: The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program and the Life Extension Program, compares these two programs in detail."@en
  • "Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1970s and l980s and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet they deteriorate and must be maintained. To correct problems, a Life Extension Program (LEP), part of a larger Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), replaces components. Modifying some components would require a nuclear test, but the United States has observed a test moratorium so LEP rebuilds these components as closely as possible to original specifications. With this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past 11 years without nuclear testing. In the FY2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress provided $9 million to initiate the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program. The program trades key Cold War features such as high yield and low weight to gain features more valuable now, such as lower cost, greater ease of manufacture, and a further increase in use control. It plans to make these improvements by designing replacement warheads that would not add military capability. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which operates the U.S. nuclear weapons program, views RRW as part of a comprehensive plan that would also modernize the nuclear weapons complex (the Complex), avoid nuclear testing, and reduce non-deployed weapons. The Nuclear Weapons Council, a joint NNSA-Department of Defense organization that coordinates nuclear weapons mailers, conducted a competition for an RRW design, with the winning design selected in March 2007. The FY2006 RRW appropriation was $24.8 million; the FY2007 operating plan contains $35.8 million; and the FY2008 request is $88.8 million for NNSA and $30.0 million for the Navy. The House Armed Services Committee mark would reduce the $88.8 million by $20 million and the $30.0 million by $25.0 million."@en

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  • "The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program background and current developments"@en
  • "The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program"@en
  • "The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program: Background and Current Developments"@en

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