The United States will not develop new nuclear warheads, according to the Obama Administration’s nuclear policy review issued Tuesday. So say goodbye to a new design that Pentagon leaders have advocated in the past to assure the safety, security, and reliability of the stockpile. Further, the NPR states that any life-extension programs to existing warheads “will use only nuclear components based on previously tested designs” and “will not support new military missions or provide for new military capabilities.” Life-extension options will be explored on a case-by-case basis. The US “will give strong preference” to options for refurbishment of existing warheads or reuse of nuclear components from different warheads, it states. Outright replacement of nuclear components would only be undertaken if the other options aren’t viable and would require Presidential authorization and Congressional approval, according to the review. (See Less Ambiguous above) (NPR full document)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.