Current Nuclear Weapons Development

B61-12 Passes Developmental Test Drops

—Arie Church - 11/17/2015

​The upgraded B61-12 nuclear free-fall bomb completed its third and final developmental test drop from an F-15E at Tonopah Test Range, Nev., late last month, the National Nuclear Security Administration announced. The B61 Mod 12 Life Extension Program began developmental testing in 2012, and is aimed at improving the safety, security, and reliability of the Air Force's legacy air-dropped tactical nuclear weapon. The current B61 is the primary nuclear weapon for the B-2 bomber, and equips both the F-16 and F-15E, providing forward-deployed deterrence to allies. “Completing this guided B61-12 flight test provides additional evidence of the nation's continued commitment to our nation’s security and that of our allies and partners," NNSA Deputy Administrator Madelyn Creedon said in a Nov. 16 release. The B61-12 mates upgraded and refurbished B61 warheads with a new, guided tailkit assembly, and will eventually be integrated onto the F-35A as well as the next generation bomber. NNSA and the Air Force began fli​ght testing in July, and conducted the last inert test-drop on Oct. 20, paving the way for the start of production engineering work in 2016.
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Six Air Force Global Strike Command bomber and missile wings responded to a series of mock nuclear threats as part of US Strategic Command's annual operational command and control exercise this month. "Global Thunder gives us an ability to exercise our role as our nation's premiere deterrent force," AFGSC boss Gen. Robin Rand said in a release. "Our airmen had the opportunity to hone their skills as they support our nuclear deterrence and global strike missions for situations we don't normally experience," added the command’s crisis action team director Col. Eric Moore. B-52s launched from Barksdale AFB, La., and Minot AFB, N.D., while B-2s participated from Whiteman AFB, Mo. Missile wings at Minot, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., and Malmstrom AFB, Mont., additionally took part in the combined command staff and field exercises, beginning Nov. 2. U-2s acting under USSTRATCOM's Task Force 204 also contributed strategic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support for the exercise from Beale AFB, Calif., according to a base release. The week-long exercise concluded Nov. 8.
 
One of the Bulava missiles missed its targets

The Russian media quotes a source in the military as saying that the flight of the first of the two Bulava missiles launched from Vladimir Monomakh submarine on November 14, 2015 did not hit its targets at the Kura test site. The source said that the warheads did reach "the Kamchatka region", but not the designated targets. This suggests that the miss was fairly large.

UPDATE: Reports say that the missile was not properly prepared for the flight and as a result was damaged as it was leaving the silo. This, in turn, placed the missile on a wrong trajectory. It's not quite clear what it means. It appears that there was some physical damage to the missile that the guidance system was not able to compensate, but that was still not significant enough to abort the flight.

http://russianforces.org/blog/2015/11/one_of_the_bulava_missiles_mis.shtml
 
http://thebulletin.org/chinas-nuclear-submarines-end-no-first-use?utm_source=hootsuite
 
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/28/us-northkorea-missile-idUSKBN0TH09M20151128#GvWEpY3lO160Gtg0.97
 
http://nationalinterest.org/feature/youre-nuts-new-nuclear-cruise-missiles-are-inherently-14457
 
http://breakingdefense.com/2015/12/special-fund-could-save-billions-on-new-nuke-subs-forbes-cbo/
 
http://www.wsj.com/articles/iaea-finds-some-iranian-nuclear-weapons-activity-continued-after-2003-1449078659 (Registration may be required.)
 
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/12/07/iran-tests-another-mid-range-ballistic-missile-in-breach-un-resolutions.html
 
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/congress-iran-missile-tests-violating-nuclear-deal/

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/north-korean-submarine-damaged-in-missile-test/
 
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/21806/peer-review-and-design-competition-in-the-nnsa-national-security-laboratories?utm_source=NAP+Newsletter&utm_campaign=a1c1c6a9cc-Final_Book_2015_12_10_21806&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_96101de015-a1c1c6a9cc-102139085&goal=0_96101de015-a1c1c6a9cc-102139085&mc_cid=a1c1c6a9cc&mc_eid=f43325c928
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I would support a next generation nuclear warhead design competition from 10Kt to 10Mt ;D
 
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-11/putin-tells-defense-chiefs-to-strengthen-russian-nuclear-forces
 
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/12/16/india_nuclear_city_top_secret_china_pakistan_barc/?utm_content=buffer981d1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
 
http://tass.ru/en/defense/844524

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said previously that the mass of the Sarmat ICBM warhead is 10 tonnes, and the missile is capable of destroying targets flying across both the North and South Pole. The Sarmat ICBM that is to replace the Voyevoda, will be created in several versions, Borisov said.

The Sarmat heavy ICBM was co-developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya in Reutov (Moscow Region) and the Makeyev State Missile Centre in Miass. According to the developers, the advanced Sarmat will weigh within 100 tonnes. According to Yuri Borisov, its range will exceed 11,000 km.
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http://tass.ru/en/defense/844525

"Next year, 16 launches are planned, of which two launches for the purpose of extending the service life and 14 launches for the purpose of holding experimental tests of missile systems being developed, providing strategic missiles with combat capabilities and as part of training to practice control of the Russian Armed Forces," Karakayev said on the eve of Strategic Missile Force Day.
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http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/defense/air-space/air-force/2015/12/18/air-force-nuclear-war-game-tests-future-bomber-fleet/77515594/
 
http://breakingdefense.com/2015/12/national-sea-based-deterrence-fund-myth-vs-reality/
 
Testing the Deterrent

12/23/2015

Two units recently successfully tested the bomber force’s ability to configure, load, fly, and deliver an unarmed version of the AGM-86B nuclear-capable air-launched cruise missile, according to a release. Air Force Global Strike Command’s 2nd Bomb Wing and Air Combat Command’s 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron conducted the extensive exercise, known as the Nuclear Weapon Systems Evaluation Program. “Exercises, weapons tests, and operations are an important part of validating that our deterrence force is safe, secure, effective, and credible, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Brig. Gen. Andrew Gebara, US Strategic Command deputy director for nuclear operations, said in the release. Lt. Col. Joseph McKenna, deputy commander of the 2nd Operations Group, said the evaluations provide an assessment and instill confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the nuclear deterrent. “Credibility is the cornerstone of deterrence,” he said. The AGM-86B is designed to be launched from outside a combat area, protecting aircrews from enemy fire while allowing accurate strike capabilities.
 
http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2015/12/pakistans-race-build-tiny-nukes-going-backfire/124705/?oref=DefenseOneFB
 
Air Force to brief industry on draft solicitation for new ICBM program

Posted: December 23, 2015


The Air Force next month plans to conduct in-depth technical discussions with industry on the requirement to modernize the silo-based intercontinental ballistic missile fleet, a meeting that comes in anticipation of an early 2016 decision to acquire the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program, a projected $62 billion project.

The ICBM systems directorate and the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center plan to host a three-day meeting, Jan. 11-13 at Hill Air Force Base, UT, with industry representatives, a gathering that comes as the Air Force plans to seek permission by March to formally launch acquisition by soliciting bids for the first material phase of the GBSD -- technology maturation and risk reduction (TMRR).

An objective of the gathering is to review draft acquisition documents circulated to industry earlier this month, including a statement of work for the technology maturation and risk reduction phase of development; a GBSD weapon system specification; and a GBSD security classification guide, according to a Dec. 22 notice published on the Federal Business Opportunities website.

In addition, the Air Force intends to brief industry at the January conference on its plans to utilize “model-based systems engineering” in the GBSD program, according to the notice. “The government will provide an overview of how it intends to 'Own the Technical Baseline' (OTB) using a model-based systems engineering (MBSE) approach.”

The GBSD program aims to modernize the ICBM fleet in order to keep the silo-based leg of the nuclear triad operational beyond the end of the Minuteman III's service life in 2030. In July 2014, the Air Force -- after weighing a wide range of options -- decided on a plan to develop and deploy a new missile using existing Minuteman infrastructure.

“GBSD will replace the entire flight system, retaining the silo basing mode while recapitalizing the ground facilities, and implements a new Weapon System Command and Control,” according to an Air Force summary of the GBSD decision.

This approach carries an estimated $62.3 billion price tag to develop and acquire though the 2030s, according to the Air Force. A February 2015 draft estimate tallied $48.5 billion for new missiles, $6.9 billion for command and control systems, and $6.9 billion for renovation of launch control centers and launch facilities.

This fall, the Air Force announced in a presolicitation notice that it was “contemplating a sole source award(s) to potentially all prospective prime contractors who anticipate submitting a formal proposal for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent technology maturation and risk reduction contract,” according to an Oct. 30 notice published in Federal Business Opportunities.

The aim of the TMRR phase is to complete a preliminary design and function baseline in anticipation of transitioning to development and production.

A Sept. 11 request for information for GBSD outlined a notional schedule that envisioned a TMRR phase beginning with contract award during the second quarter of fiscal year 2017 and concluding three years later in the second quarter of FY-20 with a milestone B review that would transition the program to engineering and manufacturing development. That would be a year longer than the Air Force estimated in its notional schedule submitted to Congress last February as part of its FY-16 budget request.

“The schedule depicted [in the FY-16 budget request] was a notional schedule as the Air Force continues to refine the draft acquisition strategy in preparation for the upcoming Milestone A (scheduled for the end of the second quarter in FY16),” Maj. Rob Lesse, an Air Force spokesman told Inside Defense in an email. “The exact timing of Milestone B is still TBD,” the spokesman said. -- Jason Sherman
 
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More of a curiosity than "news" ;

Tour of the museum that houses Ukraine's nuclear past

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35168532


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Likewise, more "history" than news ;

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2015/12/24/Cold-War-era-nuclear-targets-list-revealed-by-National-Archives/8271450938692/

.
 
http://dailysignal.com/2015/12/23/putin-is-developing-an-underwater-drone-with-nuclear-weapons-that-can-target-u-s/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=thffacebook

The Kanyon program is just one component of a comprehensive and well-funded Russian nuclear force modernization program that, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin, aims to defeat U.S. missile defense systems. Russia is developing several new delivery vehicles across all three legs of the nuclear triad (intercontinental ballistic missiles, sea-launched ballistic missiles, and strategic bombers).

Furthermore, Russia is developing and deploying new warhead designs, including smaller nuclear special-effects weapons for which the United States has no equivalent capabilities. Russia’s new capabilities are expected to become operational before the decade is out.
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http://nextbigfuture.com/2015/12/russia-developing-second-generation.html
 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/12075524/Satellite-imagery-shows-North-Korea-digging-test-tunnel-at-nuclear-proving-ground.html
 
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/01/02/lawmakers-blast-white-house-delay-on-iran-sanctions.html
 
http://news.yahoo.com/saudi-iran-crisis-rebuke-us-policy-region-203515820.html
 
http://news.yahoo.com/iran-unveils-second-underground-storing-emad-missile-134508852.html
 
http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/the-new-military-force-in-charge-of-chinas-nuclear-weapons/
 
http://abcnews.go.com/International/earthquake-strikes-north-korea-nuclear-test-site/story?id=36109939
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/01/06/north-korea-claims-to-conduct-successful-hydrogen-bomb-test.html

Also: Some Skepticism at The Diplomat:
http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/north-korea-tests-nuclear-device-claims-successful-thermonuclear-detonation/
 
http://about.bgov.com/blog/pentagon-approves-request-for-proposal-for-nuclear-submarine/
 

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