The first W88 nuclear warhead containing a rebuilt pit was certified for entry into the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile.
"Rebuilding this W88 was an enormous undertaking that took NNSA [more than] a decade and required the tremendous scientific and engineering expertise of the entire nuclear weapons complex," said Thomas D'Agostino, administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration. "I am proud that we were able to get the job done and accomplish this great feat with the W88."
The work is part of the Department of Energy-NNSA stockpile stewardship program to ensure the reliability, safety, and security of nuclear weapons without underground nuclear testing. An essential piece of every U.S. nuclear weapon, the pit is typically made of plutonium and acts as a trigger, allowing a weapon to function. NNSA recently restored its ability to manufacture pits in small quantities.
In July, the Laboratory produced the first pit for the stockpile in 18 years. The restored W88 warhead was assembled at NNSA's Pantex Plant and a replacement gas transfer system was manufactured at NNSA's Kansas City Plant and filled with gas at the Savannah River Site. The gas transfer system is essential to assure a weapon's performance.
Read a NNSA news release for more information.
