W93/Mk7
Nuclear WeaponOEM: NNSA (Los Alamos, Sandia, Y-12) / Lockheed Martin (Mk7 aeroshell)
First Produced: 2034
Status: Active
Role: Submarine-launched ballistic missile warhead
Primary Operator: U.S. Navy / Royal Navy (planned)
OEM Website: energy.gov
The W93/Mk7 is the first genuinely new U.S. nuclear warhead design in decades, intended to arm the Trident II D5LE2 submarine-launched ballistic missile aboard Columbia-class and late Ohio-class SSBNs. Development is led by Los Alamos National Laboratory with Sandia as the integration lab, while Lockheed Martin is producing the Mk7 reentry body aeroshell that carries the warhead through atmospheric reentry.
The program is coordinated with the United Kingdom's A21/Astraea warhead for the Royal Navy's Dreadnought-class submarines, giving both allies a common basing for the sea-based deterrent. First production unit is planned for the mid-2030s and the weapon will hedge against risks in the aging W76 and W88 warhead stockpile.
Related Systems
Ready to Win Defense Contracts?
Stop guessing — let Blacksmith AI draft your next winning proposal.