The Stockpile
NNSA ensures the nuclear warheads and bombs in the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile are safe, secure and reliable, in order to provide the nation with a credible nuclear deterrent. NNSA works directly on the weapons in the stockpile to extend their lifetime through refurbishment and maintenance, certify their reliability, and safely dismantle and dispose of those that have been retired. Some limited number of components from the dismantled warheads are preserved for potential reuse in life extension programs but most are disposed of in compliance with current directives.
Historically when the majority of the nuclear weapons were being designed and built, the flexibility and reliability of U.S. nuclear deterrent force was ensured by having a large quantity and variety of weapons with frequent (every 10-15 years) replacement of aging designs. But over time the global strategic environment has changed, and as a result the strategy at NNSA to support its national security mission has changed. In place of quantity (keeping large numbers of weapons around as a "hedge" in case a problem or failure is detected) and frequent replacement, NNSA works to enhance reliability and longevity of the current stockpile.
NNSA continuously assesses and evaluates each nuclear weapon to certify its reliability and to detect and/or anticipate any potential problems that may come about as a result of aging. Each different weapon type in the U.S. nuclear stockpile requires routine maintenance, periodic repair, replacement of limited life components, surveillance (a thorough examination of a weapon) in order to assure continued safety, security, and reliability and other support activities as necessary.
NNSA needs to not only meet today’s military and national security requirements, but at the same time begin to transform and modernize the nuclear weapons complex for the future. Through research, development and production support, NNSA develops the tools that are required to maintain today’s and tomorrow’s nuclear weapons stockpile.
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