W87 Yield, The Minuteman III is the sole land-based component of the U. The W87’s reported yield is at least 300 kilotons, but its second stage is understood to be modifiable to increase that to 475 kilotons. This warhead was to have a higher yield than the Mod 0, which probably indicates the use of the oralloy ring upgrade option for a 475 Kt yield. strategic nuclear capability This report examines, among other things, the extent to which NNSA (1) considered cost estimates in prior design decisions for the W87-1 and the potential effects of remaining design decisions on program cost, and (2) will be able to produce sufficient numbers of key nuclear components to meet W87-1 production needs. The exact yield of the W87-1 is unclear, but the original W87 warhead has a reported baseline yield of 300 kilotons that could be increased to 475 kilotons through a modification to the weapon’s second stage. The W87-0 warhead was first used with the Peacekeeper missile. The estimated remaining 340 W87s are in storage. It combines a relatively high yield with increased accuracy to make it an effective hard target kill weapon. 8, 2024, Congressional Research Service In Focus report, Defense Primer: LGM-35A Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. g The first figure is the total number of Design of W87-1 Pit Based on experience with development builds, the NNSA-LANL-LLNL-KCNSC team decided in fall 2022 on a design change that improves manufacturability of the W87-1 pit. It was designed for use on the Peacekeeper (MX) ICBM. The practical maximum yield-to-weight ratio for fusion weapons (thermonuclear weapons) has been estimated to six megatonnes of TNT per tonne of bomb mass (25 TJ/kg). GAO reviewed NNSA The United States has embarked on a wide-ranging nuclear modernization program. During the 1980's, when MX and other nuclear weapons were being introduced at accelerated rates, a shortage of enriched uranium necessitated deploying MX W87 warheads at less-than-maximum yield. By replacing the legacy W78, the W87-1 will maintain continuity for the ground-based leg of the U. The W78 is an American thermonuclear warhead with an estimated yield of 335–350 kilotonnes of TNT (1,400–1,460 TJ), deployed on the LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and housed in the Mark 12A reentry The warhead is named the W87-1 to reflect that it has a similar primary design to the W87-0 and will fly in a similar reentry vehicle. The Minuteman III has a fast launch time, nearly 100 percent testing reliability, and backup airborne launch controllers to preserve retaliatory capabilities. Each ICBM carries one warhead, either a W87 or W78. The W87 and its Mk 21 re-entry vehicle were originally developed for the LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM, which entered service in the 1980s. This improved yield, which had the effect of greatly lowering production costs, had enormous spin-off effects in the electronics industry. Overview NNSA’s warhead modernization activities ensure that the U. arsenal. US Air Force personnel seen training to service reentry vehicles for the LGM-118A. Initially, the missile could carry up to three W62 Mk-12 warheads, each with a yield of 170 kilotons of TNT, but now operates with a single W78 (335 kT) or W87 (300 kT) warhead due to arms reduction agreements. These scale The W87 is a variable-yield thermonuclear warhead developed by the United States, featuring a design yield of 300 kilotons that can be increased to 475 kilotons through the addition of highly enriched uranium components. [1] Design of the W87 started The W87-1 came in right behind, and thanks to the W80-4, we’re hitting the road running,” says Derek Wapman, deputy principal associate director for stockpile modernization. Land The United States has 400 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) stationed in silos in the upper Midwest and Rocky Mountain areas. The original yield of the W87 was 300 kilotons, but it has the announced ability to be upgraded to a yield of 475 kilotons, presumably by using more highly enriched uranium (HEU) in the fusion secondary stage tamper. It incorporates advanced safety mechanisms, including insensitive high explosives such as LX-17 and PBX-9502, and a fire-resistant plutonium pit to minimize accidental The following is the Nov. Here is how Graham Spinardi describes how the W87 got its yield as well as its relationship with the W88, in his book From Polaris to Trident: The Air Force too had wanted a similar yield [as the W88] warhead for its MX, but with the demands placed on available nuclear material by the Reagan build-up there was simply not enough to go around. 1 is a comprehensive list of warhead types and their descriptions. In the 2000s the nukes were upgraded (W87 mod 1) with the yield increasing to 475-kiloton to be provided to the Minuteman III ICBMs.