What project 3097 buys
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).
- Product Development
- Support
- Test and Evaluation
Project 3097 funding, FY2025–FY2031
Prior years are actuals, the budget year is the request, and the outyears are the FYDP plan. Estimate types are colored and never summed into one figure. Projects carry the full five-year plan; the activities inside them stop at the budget year.
| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 259.7 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 618.8 |
| FY2027 | Request | 841.2 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 974.5 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 1,102.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 1,101.6 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 1,123.6 |
5 accomplishments / planned programs
The R-2A exhibit — the only level of the budget that describes work that has not happened yet. Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only, no five-year plan. Each describe FY2027 work in enough detail to have their own page; the rest are shown here in full. Coverage is partial across the corpus, so count activities, never total them.
- Prepare for the execution of FCET-10 (FY 2028) and FCET-11 (FY 2029) developmental flight test programs, encompassing hardware manufacturing and test execution readiness activities. - Complete Gen 5 hardware manufacturing, begin Gen 6 development manufacturing, and initiate Gen 7 conceptual design for FCET-11 testing. - Revise and…
Read the FY2027 plan →- Transition to Phase 3 Development Work with DOE CDR. - Complete RB design maturation and AF&F development cycle one builds with continuing requirements development and systems evaluation testing. - Execute Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test (FCET)-9 program including systems evaluation testing and component level design documents…
Read the FY2027 plan →- Execute full-scale software development and missile system engineering for W93/Mk7 integration with all variants of the SWS. - Update Fire Control/Missile/Reentry performance characteristics and missile system requirements to accommodate Mk7 capabilities and specifications. - Execute FCET-9 flight test with Mk7 development test bodies…
Read the FY2027 plan →- Execute systems engineering and integration at SWS-level including requirements management, architecture integration, verification and validation, and coordinated interface analyses for W93/Mk7. - Support major system-level milestone reviews. - Conduct Weapon System Impact reviews and analyses including Strategic Weapons System Program…
Read the FY2027 plan →- Integrate Mk7 capability into Fire Control system including software updates, system modifications, performance parameter integration, and interface requirements development. - Update Fire Control targeting algorithms, databases, and Mission Planning systems to accommodate Mk7 reentry body characteristics, trajectory planning, and…
Read the FY2027 plan →Named performers on project 3097
Performers named in the R-3 exhibit under this project. Share is of the project's whole FY2027 R-3 total — the same denominator the program-element split uses, so the two read on one scale and will not sum to 100% when unnamed or government work is in the mix. Budget-justification contract funding, not obligations.