{"id":29519,"date":"2018-01-23T18:02:03","date_gmt":"2018-01-23T18:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/01\/23\/as-trump-seeks-new-nuke-options-weapons-agency-head-warns-of-capacity-overload\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:22:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:22:26","slug":"as-trump-seeks-new-nuke-options-weapons-agency-head-warns-of-capacity-overload","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/smr\/nuclear-triad\/2018\/01\/23\/as-trump-seeks-new-nuke-options-weapons-agency-head-warns-of-capacity-overload\/","title":{"rendered":"As Trump seeks new nuke options, weapons agency head warns of capacity overload"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 As the Trump administration pushes for the development of new nuclear options, the outgoing head of America\u2019s nuclear warhead agency is warning that his agency is stretched as far as it can go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an exclusive exit interview, Frank Klotz, the head of the National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, who retired Jan. 19<\/a>, told Defense News that his office is stretched as far as it can go \u2014 a notable statement, as a leaked draft of the upcoming Nuclear Posture Review<\/a> appears to set the course for the NNSA to launch another nuclear warhead modification project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NNSA is a semiautonomous office of the Department of Energy that has oversight for the U.S. nuclear warhead stockpile. While the Pentagon is in charge of the delivery systems for nuclear weapons, the NNSA handles the development and safety of the warheads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the draft NPR, which appeared on the Huffington Post on Jan. 12, the Pentagon calls for NNSA to modify or create new low-yield nuclear warheads for submarine-launched ballistic missiles, or SLBM. And while the agency is already working on a life extension for the W76-1 warhead, which goes on top of SLBMs, that has not involved a low-yield capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, the NPR calls for developing a new nuclear-capable cruise missile, which could potentially require development of a new warhead \u2014 yet another project for the agency, which is also modifying the B61-12 gravity bomb for use by bombers and fighter jets, as well as the W80-4 for the Air Force\u2019s air-launched cruise missile and the W88, another SLBM warhead that needs its conventional high explosives replaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked if he had any specific concerns about any of those modifications, Klotz raised two issues: having enough materials and parts for the programs, and the sheer magnitude of the work already assigned to his agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve never done more than one life extension program at a time, since the end of the Cold War. We\u2019re now doing essentially four,\u201d Klotz said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re pretty much at capacity<\/a> in terms of people, although we\u2019re hiring more. We\u2019re pretty much at capacity in terms of the materials that we need to do this work. And pretty much at capacity in terms of hours in the day at our facilities to do this work,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klotz declined to directly address anything in the leaked NPR draft, in deference to the fact the final version is not yet public. But when asked about his full capacity comments in light of the draft\u2019s plan to add yet another warhead modification to his schedule, the retired general did not back away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are working pretty much at full capacity,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd you can draw your conclusion from that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There have been several other proposals floated for new or different strategies to do warhead modernization, including the possibility<\/a> of merging warhead projects to find commonality between the Air Force\u2019s new intercontinental ballistic missile, dubbed the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent<\/a>, and the Navy\u2019s Trident SLBM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is merit in looking for areas in which we can achieve some commonality, whether it\u2019s the warhead or whether it\u2019s the missile or it\u2019s the missile guidance systems or fire-control system. Whatever it may be. It only makes sense,\u201d Klotz said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the outgoing administrator stressed that just because something is technically feasible doesn\u2019t mean one can simply flip a switch and begin production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you get down into how you\u2019re going to pay for it, how are you going to schedule it into the work, what\u2019s the impact going to be on the other work that\u2019s being done? Those are the things you have to think about,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t