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A FLEXIBLE DEFENSE
Refurbishing the Stockpile
Originally designed to last about ten years, the warheads in the U.S.
stockpile are now 15 to 30 years old. To ensure that these weapons
remain safe and reliable, the Laboratory conducts yearly assessments
on weapons systems.
In some instances, such assessments lead to recommendations that certain
components and materials be replaced, redesigned, or rebuilt. These
refurbishments are conducted through a formal Stockpile Life Extension
Program.
Planning Ahead
Working with organizations throughout the Nuclear Weapons Complex,
Los Alamos plans and executes all engineering facets of a refurbishment,
making sure that physics requirements for material and component behaviors
are met in the absence of new data from underground nuclear testing.
To achieve this goal, researchers perform computer simulations and
conduct non-nuclear experiments and analyses to ensure that any changes
to the warhead meet performance requirements for the weapon system
established by the Department of Defense.
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Training Stewards
Extended warhead lifetimes require that the Laboratory train
a new cadre of weapons scientists who will be knowledgeable about the warheads.
To meet this goal, the Laboratory established the Joint Nuclear Explosives Training Facility, which provides hands-on training for weapon engineers, technicians, and others involved in nuclear-weapons design, fabrication, assembly, and testing.
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