Current Nuclear Weapons Development

[Forest Green]

Well the W80-4 is destined for the LRSO, and was destined for the SLCM but I think the latter is scrapped now.

W80 (nuclear warhead) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The W87-1 is presumably for LGM-35A and MM3 in the meantime. Seems to be a 475kT version.

W80 (nuclear warhead) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The W93 is for the SLBMs.

W93 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[In_A_Dream]

What warhead is China using for their ICBMs?

 

[Forest Green]

What warhead is China using for their ICBMs?

Which one, they have 3?

The DF-41 is quoted at 2500kg throw weight, so divide by 10 and you have an RV weight of 250kg. A W87 is about 270kg and a W88 is about 360kg according to wiki. So 250kg amounts to 200-300kT... probably, ballpark guess.

 

[bobbymike]

US Nuclear Posture Congressional Testimony

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ecgpjWSaSYU

 

[bobbymike]

China may have deployed hypersonic weapon against US, says intel official

China is developing hypersonic weapons faster than Russia and may have already "deployed a weapon" that can reach American Pacific bases, as per the U.S. intelligence agency.

interestingengineering.com

 

[bobbymike]

Ignition experiment advances stockpile stewardship mission

Third in a series of articles describing the elements of the National Ignition Facility’s fusion breakthrough.

www.llnl.gov

 

[bobbymike]

Supply Chain, Lead Times, Bureaucracy Challenge Nuclear Sustainment

Air Force Global Strike Command director of logistics Brig. Gen. Kenyon K. Bell discussed hurdles for nuclear sustainment March 21.

www.airandspaceforces.com

 

[bobbymike]

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2023/03/22/inconvenient_facts_for_the_disarmament_community_888727.html?mc_cid=6f9e7af71d&mc_eid=307947a252

 

[bobbymike]

NORTHCOM: Russia Close to Persistent Nuclear Cruise Missile Attack Sub Presence off U.S. Coasts - USNI News

Russia could have its most powerful and quiet nuclear attack submarines on persistent patrols off either U.S. Coast in the next two years, the head of U.S. Northern Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. In response to questions from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) on the threat...

news.usni.org

 

[bobbymike]

Lockheed Martin Wins $474M Trident II Missile Deal From US, UK

Lockheed Martin has received a $474-million contract to supply Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missiles to the US Navy.

www.thedefensepost.com

 

[Forest Green]

Lockheed Martin Wins $474M Trident II Missile Deal From US, UK

Lockheed Martin has received a $474-million contract to supply Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missiles to the US Navy.

www.thedefensepost.com

So are these replacements or increases in quantity?

 

[NMaude]

Possibly replacements as the missiles rocket-motors do have a shelf-life.

 

[bobbymike]

Russia stages nuke missile drill as fighting continues in Ukraine

Russia is staging wide-scale military exercises in Siberia involving its strategic missile forces in a show of nuclear strength amid the fighting in Ukraine following Moscow’s invasion more than a year ago.

m.washingtontimes.com

 

[bobbymike]

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2023/04/12/its_time_for_a_new_nuclear_posture_review_893258.html?mc_cid=dab24c35ba&mc_eid=307947a252

 

[Calphor]

Possibly replacements as the missiles rocket-motors do have a shelf-life.

It is part of a fleet sustainment buy. Mostly to replace missile units that are fired for test or certification purposes. There is some age out, although that is only starting to be an issue. Judicious testing, along with replenishment, is keeping the population age within limits.

 

[NMaude]

There is some age out, although that is only starting to be an issue.

I suspect those ageing out rocket-motors are going back to the US to be reused in missile targets for various ABM tests.

 

[cattalonX]

What warhead is China using for their ICBMs?

Old missile，DF-3and4and5（mean 5A），all has a single 3~4mt warhead，But new ICBM? Don't know····

 

[bobbymike]

Probably a very close relative of the W88.

China: Suspected Acquisition of U.S. Nuclear Weapon Secrets

This CRS Report discusses China’s suspected acquisition of U.S. nuclear weapon secrets, including that on the W88, the newest U.S....

www.everycrsreport.com

 

[NMaude]

Probably a very close relative of the W88.

That's old news, the Wen Ho Lee scandal was way back in 1998.

 

[bobbymike]

Probably a very close relative of the W88.

That's old news, the Wen Ho Lee scandal was way back in 1998.

Somebody asked about modern Chinese warheads I speculated it probably resembles a W88. Probably took some time for them to reverse engineer and build.

My comment wasn’t related to when they stole the technology but rather it’s probably in their next generation of warheads.

 

[bobbymike]

Leaked Pentagon files show China tested new hypersonic ICBM

China on February 25 successfully tested the DF-27 - a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile - according to a Pentagon document leaked by Jack Teixeira.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Let’s keep fiddling around I’m sure we’ve got all the time in the world

 

[Forest Green]

Navy awards Lockheed $62M contract to study aircraft for future nuclear C3 missions - Breaking Defense

The service selected the C-130J-30 in December 2020 to be the base aircraft of the NC3 aircraft dubbed E-XX TACAMO.

breakingdefense.com

 

[Trident]

W80 (nuclear warhead) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

OT, and possibly tasteless humour, but whenever I see that photo I can't help thinking "and they say Hitler never got his hands on the bomb..."

(I just can't unsee it)

 

[bobbymike]

From the Wiki page - a thousand warheads of that single type produced in seven years 1984-90 at the same time hundreds of W87s W88s and other warhead types, incredible.

 

[bobbymike]

Keith B. Payne, Nuclear Disarmament: The Contemporary “Great Illusion”?, No. 552, April 19, 2023 – Nipp

nipp.org

 

[sferrin]

From the Wiki page - a thousand warheads of that single type produced in seven years 1984-90 at the same time hundreds of W87s W88s and other warhead types, incredible.

Rookie numbers. 2,500+ W31s produced just for the Nike Hercules force at the same time they were kicking out 25 MT W41s and nukes for every other missile in the inventory.

 

[Forest Green]

China pushes largest-ever expansion of nuclear arsenal

Hong Kong (AFP) April 26, 2023 - China is pushing ahead with the largest-ever expansion of its nuclear arsenal, modernising the atomic deterrent with an eye on any future conflicts with the United States, experts say.

www.spacewar.com

 

[sferrin]

China pushes largest-ever expansion of nuclear arsenal

Hong Kong (AFP) April 26, 2023 - China is pushing ahead with the largest-ever expansion of its nuclear arsenal, modernising the atomic deterrent with an eye on any future conflicts with the United States, experts say.

www.spacewar.com

Conspiracy theory.

 

[NMaude]

If China was stupid enough to get into a nuclear exchange with the US it would get squashed like a stepped on bug.

 

[Forest Green]

I'm fairly sure there'd be mutually assured and complete destruction at this point.

 

[Conspirator]

MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) is the only thing keeping them at bay.
think of it like two men with howitzers pointed at each other point blank itching to fire at the twitch of a finger.
a political/physical standoff if you will.
(feel free to correct me)
At this current point in time its an unspoken arms race to have the largest Nuclear weapons arsenal. the real question is this.... who will make the fatal mistake of using one?

 

[bobbymike]

Deny, deter, dissuade the last term potentially the most apropos of intent in the SCS.

 

[bobbymike]

S. Korea, US nuclear agreement big ‘first step,’ but might not curb long-term nuclear aspirations - Breaking Defense

"These announcements move from extended deterrence to a new level of nuclear power sharing. South Korea [now] has a serious voice in nuclear planning," regional expert Patrick Cronin told Breaking Defense.

breakingdefense.com

 

[bobbymike]

Long-Delayed Nuclear Modernization More Important Than Ever, AFGSC Boss Says

America is getting much-needed nuclear modernization, Air Force Global Strike Command boss Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere said May 4.

www.airandspaceforces.com

 

[Forest Green]

Long-Delayed Nuclear Modernization More Important Than Ever, AFGSC Boss Says

America is getting much-needed nuclear modernization, Air Force Global Strike Command boss Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere said May 4.

www.airandspaceforces.com

 

[bobbymike]

US submarines are popping up more often and it's not clear why

The submarines, nicknamed Boomers, gained the silent service description because they are designed to glide undetected, and their port calls have seldom been disclosed - much less trumpeted - by their usually taciturn commanders.

www.stripes.com

 

[bobbymike]

Next Generation Reentry Vehicle

SAM.gov

sam.gov

 

[In_A_Dream]

The SIPRI think tank estimates that China has a stockpile of around 350 nuclear warheads – a small sum when compared with the United States and Russia. But it is growing fast, and the country could have 1,500 warheads by 2035, according to a Pentagon estimate published in November.

G7 summit: China nuke build-up ‘concern for global stability’

World leaders held talks on nuclear disarmament after they had laid wreaths at a Memorial to those killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

www.scmp.com

 

[bobbymike]

Nuclear Notebook: Russian nuclear weapons, 2023

Russia’s nuclear arsenal includes a stockpile of approximately 4,489 warheads with 1,674 strategic warheads deployed on ballistic missiles and at heavy bomber bases, while an approximate additional 999 strategic warheads—along with 1,816 nonstrategicwarheads—are held in reserve. The Russian...

thebulletin.org

 

[sferrin]

The SIPRI think tank estimates that China has a stockpile of around 350 nuclear warheads – a small sum when compared with the United States and Russia. But it is growing fast, and the country could have 1,500 warheads by 2035, according to a Pentagon estimate published in November.

G7 summit: China nuke build-up ‘concern for global stability’

World leaders held talks on nuclear disarmament after they had laid wreaths at a Memorial to those killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

www.scmp.com

I'm sure that's just imaginary.