§ 6135. W93 nuclear warhead acquisition process

• (a)
  • (1) Upon receiving a concept definition study under phase 1 of the joint nuclear weapons life cycle for the W93 nuclear weapon, the Nuclear Weapons Council shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the following:
    • (A) A description of the potential military characteristics of the weapon.
    • (B) A description of the stockpile-to-target sequence requirements of the weapon.
    • (C) An initial assessment of the requirements a W93 nuclear weapon program is likely to generate for the nuclear security enterprise, including—
      • (i) adjustments to the size and composition of the workforce;
      • (ii) additions to existing weapon design and production capabilities; or
      • (iii) additional facility recapitalization or new construction.
    • (D) A preliminary description of other significant requirements for a W93 nuclear weapon program, including—
      • (i) first production unit date;
      • (ii) initial operational capability date;
      • (iii) full operational capability date; and
      • (iv) any unique safety and surety requirements that could increase design complexity or cost estimate uncertainty.
  • (2)
    • (A) Not later than 15 days after the date on which the Nuclear Weapons Council approves phase 2 of the joint nuclear weapons life cycle for the W93 nuclear weapon, the Administrator shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on a plan to implement a process of independent peer review or review by a board of experts, or both, with respect to—
      • (i) the nonnuclear components of the weapon;
      • (ii) subsystem design; and
      • (iii) engineering aspects of the weapon.
    • (B) The Administrator shall ensure that the process required by subparagraph (A)—
      • (i) uses—
        • (I) all relevant capabilities of the Federal Government, the defense industrial base, and institutions of higher education; and
        • (II) other capabilities that the Administrator determines necessary; and
      • (ii) informs the entire development life cycle of the W93 nuclear weapon.
• (b) Not later than 15 days after the date on which the Nuclear Weapons Council approves phase 3 of the joint nuclear weapons life cycle for the W93 nuclear weapon—
  • (1) the administrator shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing that includes certifications that—
    • (A) phases 1 through 5 of the joint nuclear weapons life cycle for the weapon will employ, at a minimum, the same best practices and will provide Congress with the same level of programmatic insight as exists under the phase 6.X process for life extension programs; and
    • (B) the proposed design for the weapon can be carried out within estimated schedule and cost objectives; and
  • (2) the Commander of the United States Strategic Command shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing, or provide to such committees a briefing on, the requirements for weapon quantity and composition by type for the sub-surface ballistic nuclear (SSBN) force, including such requirements planned for the 15-year period following the date of the report or briefing, as the case may be, including any planned life extensions, retirements, or alterations.
• (c) Subsections (a) and (b) may be waived during a period of war declared by Congress after January 1, 2021 .
• (d) In this section, the term “joint nuclear weapons life cycle” has the meaning given that term in section 6131.