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Nuclear Modernization

Some W87 Warheads Will Go on GBSD Without Getting New Pits First

Thursday, February 27th, 2020

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Some W87 Warheads Will Go on GBSD Without Getting New Pits First

The Air Force test launches a Minuteman III ICBM in September 2010. Photo: Air Force.

The Department of Energy and the Pentagon plan deploy W87-0 warheads, without new plutonium pit cores, on some Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) missiles, potentially buying the civilian agency more time to get a pair of planned pit factories up and running. DoE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) confirmed the plan Thursday through a spokesperson. The agency’s 2021 budget request includes a footnote that says some W87-0 warheads, one of two types deployed on legacy Minuteman III silo-based missiles, will…

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