Program To Refurbish Aging Nuclear Warheads Faces Setbacks

Photo: Technicians at Pantex in Texas work on a W56 nuclear warhead. National Nuclear Security Administration

From L.A. Times:

Technical problems and an erosion of scientific expertise are blamed for delays in the effort to replace thousands of parts that have aged since the bombs left the factory decades ago.

A decadelong effort to refurbish thousands of aging nuclear warheads has run into serious technical problems that have forced delays and exacerbated concerns about the Energy Department's ability to maintain the nation's strategic deterrent.

The program involves a type of warhead known as the W76, which is used on the Navy's Trident missile system and makes up more than half of the deployed warheads in the U.S. stockpile.

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My Comment: I guess the infrastructure was not the only thing that has been neglected these past few years.