U.S. Navy advances first new nuke since Cold War

The U.S. Navy awarded JRC Integrated Systems a $47.4 million modification for engineering and technical support on the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile known as SLCM-N. Work is scheduled through November 2030, with $10.1 million in prior-year funds obligated at award across sites including Washington, Virginia and Maryland. The program pairs a submarine-launched missile with the planned W80-5 warhead and targets an initial capability around 2034, restoring a theater nuclear option the Navy has not fielded since the Cold War.