| W93 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Nuclear weapon |
| Service history | |
| In service | Planned from 2034 |
| Used by | United States Navy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Designed | Planned from 2023 |
| Specifications | |
Detonation mechanism | Contact, airburst |
TheW93 is an Americannuclear warhead planned to replace theW76 andW88 warheads onUnited States Navy submarines from 2034. The warhead will be carried on the newColumbia-class submarines[1] and will use a new aeroshell, the Mark 7 reentry body (RB).[2] The warhead will be designed byLos Alamos National Laboratory.[3]
The Mark 7 RB will also be used to house theUnited Kingdom's new warhead,Astraea, designed in parallel to the W93 and sharing some non-nuclear components.[4]
The warhead is expected to incorporate improved safety features such asinsensitive high explosives.[1] According to theUnited States Department of Energy, the design will be based on previously tested nuclear components and will not require nuclear testing.[5] However, some critics have called for testing the new design to ensure safety and reliability.[6]