The US National Nuclear Security Agency of the Department of Energy has announced that the design for a new warhead for the navy’s submarine launch missile has been approved. This design will replace the existing warhead and it is asserted that it will not constitute an additionality for the existing stockpiles. The reasons advanced by the National Nuclear Security Agency to go in for a new design warhead are the following:

• To assure long term confidence in the reliability of the nuclear stockpile

• Enhance security by using state of the art technology

• Improve the safety of the stockpile

• Help to develop a nuclear weapons infrastructure that is more responsive to the future needs

• Utilise and sustain critical nuclear weapons design and production skills

• Enable a reduced stockpile size by increasing confidence in the weapons production infrastructure

• Decrease the likelihood that a nuclear test will be needed

The development of the new warhead, it is claimed, will not involve any new nuclear testing. The programme will use modern manufacturing methods, improved analytical tools and other non-nuclear tests. It is claimed that the new Livermore design is based on components already tested and proved and therefore would not need to be tested.

The US Administration seeks to reassure Russia and China that this programme will only replace the existing warheads and therefore those countries have no reason to be concerned. It is also said that the new programme aims at reliability and safety and will use inert explosives unlike in the earlier programmes. However, the US very often begins its programmes with the assertion that it would contribute to strategic stability but does not take an indulgent view when another country follows suit.

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