Strategic Sub & Wpns Sys Supt

The W93/Mk7 warhead project (3097) will provide the US Navy with a third submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) warhead variant, enhancing flexibility in managing the nuclear stockpile. Designed to meet STRATCOM requirements and maintain a credible sea-based deterrent, the W93/Mk7 incorporates advanced technology to address emerging threats. W93/Mk7 will provide opportunities to improve the current force by delivering the President flexible options to deter or limit conflict. The W93/Mk7 is being designed to allow for modifications if needed to adapt to the changing threat environment. This project also reinforces the US commitment to supporting the UK's independent nuclear deterrent. Critical early investments are required for the development of critical skills and recapitalization of the atrophied industrial base. The U.S. has not delivered an integrated ballistic reentry system since the 1980s. The program will align to the President's priority of strengthening our Nation's manufacturing and defense industrial base while improving supply chain resiliency and reducing reliance on foreign countries. In order to manage the development, production, maintenance, and retirement of W93/Mk7, the Department of War (DoW) and Department of Energy (DOE) / National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) will utilize the DoW-DOE/NNSA Nuclear Weapons Lifecycle Process (Phase X). Phase X process is a joint effort which provides a common framework to conduct and manages phased activities: Phase 1 - Concept Assessment, Phase 2 - Feasibility Study and Design Options, Phase 2A - Design Definition and Cost Study, Phase 3 - Development Engineering, Phase 4 - Production Engineering, Phase 5 - First Production, Phase 6 - Full-Scale Production/Sustainment, Phase 7 - Retirement, Dismantlement, and Disposal. W93/Mk7 Program entered Phase 2A in March 2025. Progress and accomplishments achieved between Phase 1 and Phase 2A include the following: - Early efforts primarily consisted of developing programmatic planning and structure to support the future program along with further exploration and refinement of the concept studies that resulted from the Feasibility Management Team Study, which was directed in the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR).

Trident II D5 Modernization (D5LE2): The Trident II D5LE2 program is crucial for modernizing the U.S. nuclear triad's submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) leg, as the current D5LE system on OHIO-class submarines will become obsolete for the COLUMBIA class through 2084. D5LE2 will address aging components and evolving peer threats by providing a modernized SLBM system with comparable range and accuracy, enhanced adaptability and resilience, and key upgrades in architecture, avionics, guidance, flight structures, and post-boost controls, while leveraging existing viable components and prioritizing critical technologies like radiation-hardened electronics and advanced guidance systems within a modular architecture to ensure a credible, survivable, and adaptable sea-based deterrent for decades. Threat & Risk-Informed Advanced Development (TRIAD): The Threat & Risk-Informed Advanced Development program leverages technological advancements, coordinates advanced research across stakeholders, and collaborates with government and industry partners to identify and outpace future threats to the nation's Sea-based Strategic Deterrent. Specific RDT&EN investments will aim to (1) preserve Trident II D5LE missile strategic weapon system (SWS) survivability against current and future threats; (2) respond to warfighter demands at the speed of relevance by enhancing effectiveness and capabilities in accordance with USSTRATCOM and Navy priorities; and (3) ensure the sustainment of the SWS demonstrated performance through 2084. Between 1955 and 1990, consistent investment in Research and Development (R&D) fueled the success of the Strategic Weapons System (SWS) through a series of development and production programs. However, unlike previous transitions between SLBM systems (A1, A2, A3, C3, C4), development of a Trident D5 follow-on was not immediately initiated. This resulted in a significant decline in R&D funding for submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) systems in the early 1990s. Additionally as the U.S. shifted towards a nuclear force sustainment paradigm, investments in advanced delivery system capabilities to counter emerging threats were curtailed. Consequently, the pipeline for developing cutting-edge technologies has weakened considerably.

Funding in FY 2027 has been realigned to Project 2228. This budget supports the research, development, testing, and evaluation of new technologies across multiple domains - Integrated Nuclear Weapons Security Systems (INWSS), Submarine Transit Protection Program (TPP), and Counter Unmanned Systems (C-UXS) - to significantly increase the mission effectiveness in protecting Navy Strategic Assets. This directly supports the National Defense Strategy's priorities of maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent and defending the homeland, by enhancing the security and survivability of critical assets. Specifically, funding is allocated within these technological areas to upgrade security systems to reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities, increase detection ranges, and improve response options, thereby improving the ability to deter, detect, delay, deny, and/or defeat adversaries, and ensure continuity between nuclear weapon security and operational missions. This is critical because INWSS development efforts directly support the Nuclear Weapons Surety (NWS) program and the Transit Protection Program (TPP), as outlined in DoDM S-5210.41. Current security systems are increasingly vulnerable to advanced drone swarms sophisticated underwater intrusion tactics necessitating these upgrades to maintain an effective deterrent. Within the Department of the Navy, these efforts are focused on TRIDENT Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBM) deployed aboard Ballistic Missile submarines or stored at Strategic Weapons Facilities in Kings Bay and Bangor. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) has assigned Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) the mission responsibility for safeguarding these FBM nuclear assets, including land-side and pier operations for storage, loading, and unloading, as well as security and protection of SSBNs during transit to and from their dive point. Each of these environments presents unique security challenges to personnel and currently fielded NWS security systems, making these upgrades essential to SSP's responsibility to the Nuclear Deterrence Mission. These upgrades will directly benefit SSP security personnel and Strategic Weapons Facility commanders at Kings Bay and Bangor by providing them with enhanced situational awareness, improved threat response capabilities, and increased mission effectiveness.

- FY 2025 Congressional add for security monitoring at maritime chokepoints will evaluate a network of passive seismic and hydroacoustic phased arrays to determine its effectiveness in detecting, classifying, localizing, and tracking hostile submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). This assessment should focus on the system's ability to counter covert threats posed to ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) while transiting critical maritime chokepoints or during port visits. FY 2026 Congressional adds for the following efforts: - Navigation Research and Development Center (NRDC) Facility Modernization funding includes the upgrade and expansion of critical Warminster, PA facility. This modernization will expand the facility by providing state-of-art infrastructure to accelerate R&D, rapid prototyping, test and evaluation capabilities for autonomous, advanced, and strategic weapon systems. These capabilities are essential for Navy strategic objectives to support future strategic defense solutions, critical test capabilities, faster fielding of technologies to meet pacing threats, and modernize innovation and collaboration with Government and industry partners. These investments will foster innovation, attract a talented workforce, and ensure a long-term commitment to the strategic readiness. - Strategic Systems Supply Chain Management will bolster the Strategic Defense Industrial Base (SDIB), mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities, and accelerate the development of high-priority national security systems. This initiative will enhance industrial readiness by optimizing the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) transition to fielding, assessing vendor viability for the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile-Nuclear (SLCM-N), and investing in emerging propulsion and guidance technologies to maintain a decisive technological advantage. Foundational to this effort is enterprise-level analysis to support strategic sourcing, targeted workforce development, and key acquisition reforms that stabilize demand signals across the industrial base. The execution of these tasks is vital to reducing production risks for our most critical defense programs, ensuring the timely delivery of advanced capabilities to the warfighter, and maintaining our nation's strategic deterrent.