Stockpile Stewardship and Sustainment (2020 Presidential transition): Difference between revisions

The '''Stockpile Stewardship and Sustainment (SSP)''' supports a multifaceted understanding of the stockpile and allows National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) to predict, detect, and evaluate potential problems related to aging. Routine scheduled surveillance of nuclear weapons may lead to significant finding investigations, which in turn inform the need for corrective action, such as initiating an alteration (Alt) or modification (Mod). Some issues may be resolved without any changes to weapons in the stockpile. Alts involve limited scope changes that typically affect the assembly, testing, maintenance, and/or storage of weapons. Mods are more comprehensive programs that increase safety, improve security, extend limited-life component life cycles, and/or address identified defects and component obsolescence. As warheads and bombs age in the stockpile, they may require life extension programs (LEPs) to comprehensively address aging issues and meet modern safety and security requirements. LEPs involve modifications that refurbish warheads by replacing aged components to extend the service life of the weapon.