A New Equilibrium for the Redefined Weapons Program and Complex

1993 Number 21 Los Alamos Science As we look back on the fifty-year history of Los Alamos National Laboratory, we can be justifiably proud of the accomplishments that are the foundation of our rich heritage. While the nation faced World War II and then the Cold War, we developed nuclear and thermonuclear explosives. In the early years we were also instrumental in developing the manufacturing technologies employed at the production plants in the nuclear weapons complex. Over the intervening decades we met the challenges of changing national security needs. As weapons-delivery systems changed and the need for lighter, smaller, and more specialized warheads became apparent, we developed weightand size-optimized designs. As increased attention was directed toward warhead safety and security, we developed insensitive high explosives, fire-resistant weapon components, and other enhanced surety (safety/security) design features. Once again the security needs of the nation are changing—this time in the most profound ways since the early days of the Cold War. Once again Los Alamos and the nuclear weapons program must respond by building on our rich heritage and unique scientific and engineering capabilities to meet the new challenges. Redefining the U.S. Nuclear Weapons Program and the DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex