NNSA Completed First Plutonium Core for W87-1 Thermonuclear Warhead

The National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S Department of Energy (NNSA) has confirmed the completion of the first plutonium core for the latest W87-1 thermonuclear warhead.

NNSA is currently restoring core production capacity and aims to produce at least 80 units per year.

During the Cold War, the United States could produce hundreds of cores per year. The production of cores stopped in 1989. Therefore, the administration continues to recapitalize production facilities that atrophied in the post-Cold War era. A fully qualified plutonium core for W87-1 nuclear warhead means its readiness for deployment in the U.S. nuclear arsenal at the level of “war reserve”.

The manufacturing of plutonium core was completed in the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has been responsible for core design, and the Kansas City National Security Campus has been responsible for the production of non-nuclear components.

Achieving maximum power in the core of W87-1 warhead is an important stage for the modernization of the US nuclear arsenal. The W87-1 are designed to be equipped with Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles, which will replace the Minuteman III in the future.