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FY 16-17: Agency Priority Goal
Modernize the nuclear stockpile
Priority Goal
Goal Overview
Overview of the Life Extension Programs part of the goal:
Following the Department of Energy Strategic Plan for 2014-2018, the DOE/NNSA Enterprise Strategic Vision (August 2015) provides the framework for integrating our missions and a future direction in pursuit of DOE’s strategic goals. The highest priority for the Nuclear Weapons Stockpile mission pillar is the sustainment and life extension of reduced weapons currently in the stockpile, which demands a careful and balanced execution of maintaining a safe, secure, reliable, credible and responsive nuclear weapons stockpile, without underground nuclear explosive testing. DOE/NNSA has successfully sustained the deterrent since the unilateral moratorium on nuclear explosive testing in 1992, and will continue to do so through the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Program. This has been accomplished through the capabilities, vision, and determination of DOE/NNSA’s world-class scientists, technicians, and engineers, as well as significant investments in scientific tools, facilities, and people. Sustaining the nuclear weapons stockpile includes a range of priority activities that are interdependent. As weapons systems age, life extension, alteration, and modification programs are addressing aging and performance issues, enhancing safety features, and improving security. DOE/NNSA will meet strategic deterrence requirements with a reduced stockpile size while retaining reliability. To meet national policy for a safe, secure, and effective stockpile as long as nuclear weapons exist, sustainment is necessary to maintain the operational capability. The “3+2” Strategy is the program of record that guides DOE/NNSA’s sustainment efforts, which will eventually downsize the stockpile through the sustainment process. Consistent with the Nuclear Posture Review (DoD 2010) objectives, ongoing sustainment efforts include the production of the W76-1 LEP which will enable reduction of W76 warheads by a factor of two, and the B61-12 LEP which will consolidate four families of the B61 into one and improve both the safety and security of the oldest weapon system in the U.S. arsenal.
Key Barriers and Challenges:
- The NNSA is committed to the national security requirement to meet the immediate needs of the stockpile while maintaining the basic research and development, technology, and production infrastructure to respond to technical, and geopolitical surprise. The NNSA underpins both confidence in the stockpile, and reinforcement of the DoD, and other national security interests.
- To fulfill NNSA's commitment to DoD and to the nation, the NNSA works together with its DoD partner to identify priorities and make the appropriate adjustments to scope, and schedule that will achieve the goals of the President and the NPR.
- NNSA must conduct surveillance, and annual assessments as the nuclear weapons stockpile ages. If technical surprises were to occur, the nation must have safe, and secure facilities, and the science and engineering base to respond. Infrastructure modernization delays continue to challenge NNSA's ability to maintain nuclear surveillance and assessment capability.
- NNSA must continue to meet facility safety and security requirements and work to achieve efficiencies where possible.
- The nation must maintain an unequaled capability to understand the design and physics of any nuclear device. This understanding extends beyond the stewardship of our own stockpile, and includes an ability to analyze and effectively respond to any nuclear threat.
Overview of the Radiological Threats part of the goal:
The NNSA's strategy incorporates a threat-based, defense in depth approach to illicit trafficking that recognizes:
- Smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive materials is an ongoing global enterprise
- Even a single, viable trafficking network constitutes a serious U.S. national security risk and global threat
- There are existing gaps in the global nuclear and radiation detection architecture
- International coordination is imperative to meeting global nuclear security needs
Strategies
Strategies for the Life Extension Programs part of the goal:
The strategies for achieving the NNSA's mission have led to the formulation of specific executable actions to achieve the near and long-term requirements of the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan (SSMP), as specified in U.S. Code Title 50. The annual NNSA SSMP, along with the Nuclear Weapon Stockpile Memorandum and its flow down to the Defense Programs Production and Planning Directive (P&PD), document these actions. Also, management tools for tracking performance, cost, and schedules provide programmatic controls for execution of stockpile stewardship activities across a geographically-distributed nuclear security enterprise (eight Management and Operating (M&O) contractor-operated national laboratories and production sites).
Strategies for the Radiological Threats part of the goal:
Implementation: Installation and deployment of radiation detection systems at border checkpoints, airports and seaports, internal locations and other controlled land and maritime borders.
Sustainability: Guidance, methodology and practical transition support for partner country assuming fully operational, maintenance and management responsibilities
Progress Update
Progress Update for the Life Extension Programs part of the goal:
Complete at least 70% of W76-1 cumulative production unit builds by the end of 2016, and 80% by the end of 2017
The Agency met the goal of 70% of the W76-1 Life Extension Program (LEP) production unit builds as represented in the annual Selected Acquisition Report (SAR). End-of-Year accomplishments included achieving the FY 2016 Q4 and end-of-year warhead production quantity requirements consistent with the negotiated schedule and completing the July, August, and September warhead deliveries to the Navy as scheduled.
Achieve B61-12 Phase 6.4 authorization to initiate production-engineering activities by the end of FY 2016, and achieve B61-12 First System Qualification Flight Test by the end of FY 2017
The Agency exceeded FY 2016 expectations for the B61-12 LEP. A fourth quarter accomplishment was the early achievement of entry to Phase 6.4 and approval by NNSA to initiate B61-12 LEP production engineering activities.
Q4 - Complete B61-12 LEP Phase 6.4 Authorization. Complete Systems Engineering Pre-production Gate and Preliminary Design Review and Acceptance Group (PDRAAG) and receive NNSA authorization to continue into Phase 6.4 for the B61-12 LEP.
Completed ahead of schedule. On June 23, 2016, the B61-12 LEP was granted approval to enter into Phase 6.4, Pre-Production Engineering, meeting the FY2016 Q4 Annual Performance Goal (APG) milestone ahead of schedule. The program is currently focused on design and manufacture of qualification hardware to support the first System 1 qualification flight test scheduled in FY2017, also an APG milestone.
Progress Update for the Radiological Threats part of the goal:
Complete delivery and installation of a cumulative total of 755 fixed, mobile, and man-portable radiation detection systems by theend of FY 2017
DOE/NNSA Global Material Security’s (GMS) Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (NSDD) program made progress toward installation and deployment of radiation detection systems at border checkpoints, airports and seaports, internal locations and other controlled land and maritime borders. Exceeded FY16 cumulative target of 716 fixed and mobile detection systems deployed by 7.
The GMS/NSDD program installed fixed radiation detection systems at 21 sites and deployed 13 mobile detection systems for a total of 52 radiation detection systems deployed in FY16, for a cumulative total of 723 systems deployed (606 fixed site and 117 mobile).
Next Steps
Next Steps for the Life Extension Programs part of the goal:
Complete at least 70% of W76-1 cumulative production unit builds by the end of 2016, and 80% by the end of 2017
The next step(s) for the W76-1 LEP are to continue production and deliveries to the Navy consistent with directive schedules.
Q2: Demonstrate progress toward completing at least 80% of the W76-1 production unit builds in accordance with the production control document (PCD)--W76-1 Life Extension Program as represented in the annual Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) to complete production of the Nuclear Weapon Council (NWC) approved W76-1 production schedule by FY 2019.
Achieve B61-12 Phase 6.4 authorization to initiate production-engineering activities by the end of FY 2016, and achieve B61-12 First System Qualification Flight Test by the end of FY 2017
Q1: B61-12 LEP Design and Manufacture Hardware. Support system design and manufacture of qualification hardware for first System 1 qualification flight test.
Q2: B61-12 LEP Delivery Hardware. Delivery of System 1 hardware and assemble Joint Test Assembly (JTA) for first Qualification Flight Test (System 1).
Next Steps for the Radiological Threats part of the goal:
Complete delivery and installation of a cumulative total of 755 fixed, mobile, and man-portable radiation detection systems by theend of FY 2017
Q1 and Q2 major activities focus on design and build activities to prepare for construction and system deployments to occur in Q3 and Q4. The project is currently ahead of schedule and expects to reach the combined total of 755 radiation detection systems during FY17.
Expand All
Performance Indicators
B61-12 LEP
Radiation Detection Systems
W76-1 Life Extension Program (LEP)
Contributing Programs & Other Factors
Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence
The mission of NSDD (formerly Second Line of Defense) is to strengthen the capabilities and commitment of partner countries to deter, detect, and interdict illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive materials within the interiors of partner countries, across international borders, and through the global maritime shipping system.
NSDD provides partner countries with the tools and training necessary to counter nuclear smuggling, thus making an essential contribution to the global nuclear detection architecture. It does this by installing radiation detection systems at high-priority locations around the world and by building a community of states that possess an indigenous capacity to deter, detect, and interdict nuclear and radioactive materials.
Strategic Objectives
Strategic Objective:
Statement:
Maintain the safety, security and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrent without nuclear testing
Description:
In order to reassure allies and deter potential adversaries as long as nuclear weapons exist, the U.S. must sustain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear arsenal. NNSA will continue to work closely with the Department of Defense (DoD), through the Joint DoD/DOE Nuclear Weapons Council (NWC), to modernize the stockpile through timely execution of approved life extension programs, as outlined in the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan (SSMP). The SSMP, which is updated annually, details the 25-year program of record for activities supporting the nuclear weapons stockpile. The SSMP, as well as the NWC, is informed by NNSA technical scoping studies, cost and risk analysis, and resource allocation modeling of alternatives.
As the nation’s nuclear weapons age and exceed their stockpile design life, the NNSA must extend their lifespan. The 2010 NPR report, an extensive review of the nation’s nuclear posture, recommended that study options for weapon life extension programs (LEP) consider three approaches: refurbishment of existing warheads, reuse of nuclear components from different warheads, and replacement of nuclear components. The NPR report recommended fully funding the ongoing LEP for the W76 submarine-based warhead, the LEP study and follow-on activities for the B61 bomb, and to initiate a study of LEP options for the W78 intercontinental ballistic missile warhead, including the possibility of reusing the warhead on submarine-launched ballistic missiles to reduce the number of warhead types.
Without recourse to nuclear testing, NNSA will deliver the scientific capability to assess weapon performance as well as the component and manufacturing technologies and supporting infrastructure required to execute the SSMP. NNSA will ensure the safe and secure transportation of nuclear materials and weapons components. At the same time, NNSA will advance the President’s vision for reductions in nuclear weapons by dismantling retired weapons.
Agency Priority Goals
Statement: In support of this goal, DOE will:
Description: The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) ensures that nuclear warheads and bombs in the United States (U.S.) nuclear weapons operationally-deployed stockpile are safe, secure, reliable (effective), and available to the President for deployment. Until the world is free of nuclear weapons, the U.S. will assess and maintain a safe, secure, and effective stockpile that deters adversaries and assures allies that they are covered by the U.S. nuclear deterrent umbrella. However, because these weapons will exist for an indefinite period, the U.S. must manage its stockpile while meeting the overarching objectives of: 1) Providing no new military capabilities; 2) Conducting no underground nuclear tests; 3) Requiring no production of new fissile material for warheads; and 4) Contributing to U.S. nonproliferation goals. The NNSA shares responsibilities with the Department of Defense (DoD) for the implementation of actions that follow from the President's Nuclear Weapon Stockpile Memorandum and the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review. Our nation's nuclear weapons are exceeding their stockpile design life and their lifespan must be extended while maintaining the weapons’ safety, security, and effectiveness. At the same time, the NNSA must confront challenges arising from the loss of original manufacturing capabilities, specialized labor skills, and certification without returning to underground nuclear testing. These life extensions cannot be allowed to degrade the historically high confidence levels that underpin our nuclear deterrent. Key Barriers and Challenges: Stakeholder Engagement: Management of this priority goal will require close coordination with the Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD and the NNSA share joint responsibility for all U.S. nuclear weapons. Part of keeping the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile safe, secure, and reliable includes working with the DoD to maintain the quantity and quality of weapons necessary for U.S. national security needs. From the earliest days of the Manhattan Project, the DoD and NNSA have maintained a set of joint programs to maintain the U.S. nuclear stockpile and counter the threat of nuclear proliferation.
