W93
| W93 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Nuclear weapon |
| Service history | |
| In service | Planned from 2034 |
| Used by | United States Navy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Designed | Planned from 2023 |
| Specifications | |
Detonation mechanism | Contact, airburst |
The W93 is an American nuclear warhead planned to replace the W76 and W88 warheads on United States Navy submarines from 2034. The warhead will be carried on the new Columbia-class submarines[1] and will use a new aeroshell, the Mark 7 reentry body (RB).[2] The warhead will be designed by Los Alamos National Laboratory.[3]
The Mark 7 RB will also be used to house the United Kingdom's new warhead, designed in parallel to the W93 and sharing some non-nuclear components.[4]
Design
[edit]The warhead is expected to incorporate improved safety features such as insensitive high explosives.[1] According to the Energy Department, the design will be based on previously tested nuclear components and will not require nuclear testing.[5] However, some critics have called for testing the new design to ensure safety and reliability.[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Kramer, David (2020). "Take your pick: A new warhead or a "new program of record"". Physics Today. 73 (4): 26–28. Bibcode:2020PhT....73d..26K. doi:10.1063/PT.3.4451. S2CID 216372082.
- ^ The W93 Warhead (PDF) (Report). Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ W93/MK7 Acquisition Program (PDF). National Nuclear Security Administration. Jan 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
- ^ Harries, Matthew (22 October 2020). "Will America Help Britain Build a New Nuclear Warhead?". War on the Rocks. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ Whitney Spivey (26 July 2021). "Envisioning the W93". Los Alamos National Laboratory. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ Broad, William J. (5 July 2024). "Trump Advisers Call for U.S. Nuclear Weapons Testing if He Is Elected". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2024.