W93 Explained

W93
Type:Nuclear weapon
Is Explosive:yes
Service:Planned from 2034
Used By:United States Navy
Designer:Los Alamos National Laboratory
Design Date:Planned from 2023
Detonation: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

The warhead is expected to incorporate improved safety features such as insensitive high explosives.[1] The design will be based on previously tested nuclear components and will not require nuclear testing.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Kramer. David. Take your pick: A new warhead or a "new program of record". Physics Today. 2020. 73. 4. 26–28. 10.1063/PT.3.4451. 2020PhT....73d..26K. 216372082.
  2. The W93 Warhead . 9 April 2022 . 10 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210510163009/https://armscontrolcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/W93-.pdf . live .
  3. National Nuclear Security Administration. W93/MK7 Acquisition Program. 2022-11-02. Jan 2022. 2022-02-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20220209154844/https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-01/W93%20012422_1.pdf. live.
  4. Web site: Will America Help Britain Build a New Nuclear Warhead? . Harries . Matthew . 22 October 2020 . War on the Rocks . 9 April 2022 . 9 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220409024935/https://warontherocks.com/2020/10/will-america-help-britain-build-a-new-nuclear-warhead/ . live .
  5. Web site: Envisioning the W93 . Whitney Spivey . 26 July 2021 . Los Alamos National Laboratory . 9 April 2022 . 7 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220407073536/https://discover.lanl.gov/publications/national-security-science/2021-summer/w93 . live .