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W76 AI simulator
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Hub AI
W76 AI simulator
(@W76_simulator)
W76
The W76 is an American thermonuclear warhead, designed for use on the UGM-96 Trident I submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and subsequently moved to the UGM-133 Trident II as Trident I was phased out of service. The first variant, the W76 mod 0 (W76-0) was manufactured from 1978 to 1987. It was gradually replaced by the W76 mod 1 (W76-1) between 2008 and 2018, completely replacing the Mod 0 in the active stockpile. In 2018, it was announced that some Mod 1 warheads would be converted to a new low-yield W76 mod 2 (W76-2) version. The first Mod 2 warheads were deployed in late 2019.
The warhead was initially manufactured from 1978 to 1987 and designed by Los Alamos National Laboratory. It was initially fitted to the Trident I SLBM system, but after the Rocky Flats plant where its successor the W88 was being made was shut down in 1989 after a production run of only 400 warheads, it was decided to transfer W76 warheads to Trident II.
A life extension program (LEP) for 800 warheads was approved by the US government in 2000, then later increased to 2,000. The purpose of the LEP was to extend service life by 20 years and add new safety features. In September 2008, production on the W76-1 started. In December 2018, the National Nuclear Security Administration completed updating all W76-0 warheads to the W76-1 design.
The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review announced that a new variant, the W76-2, would be manufactured. The W76-2 variant is described as a low-yield warhead, estimated at 5-7 kilotons of TNT equivalent. In January 2019, the National Nuclear Security Administration announced that it had started to manufacture the W76-2. Initial operating capability was expected in the final quarter of 2019, and manufacturing is expected to last through FY2024 at the Pantex Plant.
According to the FAS, the W76-2 warhead was first deployed with USS Tennessee during its late 2019 operational patrol. In February 2020, the US Department of Defense confirmed that the W76-2 had been 'fielded'.
The warhead is currently the most numerous weapon in the US nuclear arsenal, having replaced the 50 kt W68 that was fitted to the Poseidon SLBM in that capacity.
The United Kingdom operates a nuclear weapon based on the W76 mod-1 design, under the name "Holbrook".
The Mk4 reentry vehicle is 130 cm long and 40 cm in diameter. The dimensions of the W76 thermonuclear warhead are unknown.
W76
The W76 is an American thermonuclear warhead, designed for use on the UGM-96 Trident I submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and subsequently moved to the UGM-133 Trident II as Trident I was phased out of service. The first variant, the W76 mod 0 (W76-0) was manufactured from 1978 to 1987. It was gradually replaced by the W76 mod 1 (W76-1) between 2008 and 2018, completely replacing the Mod 0 in the active stockpile. In 2018, it was announced that some Mod 1 warheads would be converted to a new low-yield W76 mod 2 (W76-2) version. The first Mod 2 warheads were deployed in late 2019.
The warhead was initially manufactured from 1978 to 1987 and designed by Los Alamos National Laboratory. It was initially fitted to the Trident I SLBM system, but after the Rocky Flats plant where its successor the W88 was being made was shut down in 1989 after a production run of only 400 warheads, it was decided to transfer W76 warheads to Trident II.
A life extension program (LEP) for 800 warheads was approved by the US government in 2000, then later increased to 2,000. The purpose of the LEP was to extend service life by 20 years and add new safety features. In September 2008, production on the W76-1 started. In December 2018, the National Nuclear Security Administration completed updating all W76-0 warheads to the W76-1 design.
The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review announced that a new variant, the W76-2, would be manufactured. The W76-2 variant is described as a low-yield warhead, estimated at 5-7 kilotons of TNT equivalent. In January 2019, the National Nuclear Security Administration announced that it had started to manufacture the W76-2. Initial operating capability was expected in the final quarter of 2019, and manufacturing is expected to last through FY2024 at the Pantex Plant.
According to the FAS, the W76-2 warhead was first deployed with USS Tennessee during its late 2019 operational patrol. In February 2020, the US Department of Defense confirmed that the W76-2 had been 'fielded'.
The warhead is currently the most numerous weapon in the US nuclear arsenal, having replaced the 50 kt W68 that was fitted to the Poseidon SLBM in that capacity.
The United Kingdom operates a nuclear weapon based on the W76 mod-1 design, under the name "Holbrook".
The Mk4 reentry vehicle is 130 cm long and 40 cm in diameter. The dimensions of the W76 thermonuclear warhead are unknown.
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