U.S. Navy says W93 Mk7 enters engineering phase, advancing first new nuclear warhead and reentry program in nearly four decades

The U.S. Navy's W93 nuclear warhead and Mk7 reentry body have entered engineering development, advancing the first new American naval warhead-and-reentry program in roughly four decades. Designed for submarine-launched ballistic missiles, the system is intended to strengthen the sea-based deterrent and is planned to begin entering service in the mid-2030s aboard the Columbia-class fleet. Los Alamos National Laboratory is leading warhead design using previously tested nuclear components, while the Mk7 program will also provide selected non-nuclear technologies relevant to Britain's separate Astraea warhead development effort.