W88
| W88 | |
|---|---|
Diagram of the W88 warhead: In 1999, information was released showing that in the W88, the primary (top) is egg-shaped, while the secondary (bottom) is spherical. | |
| Type | Nuclear weapon |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1989–present |
| Used by | United States Navy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Designed | 1970s to 1980s |
| Manufacturer | Rocky Flats |
| Produced | 1988–1989 (full production) |
| No. built | ~400 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 175–360 kilograms (386–794 lb) |
| Length | Approximately 60 inches (150 cm) |
| Diameter | 18 inches (46 cm) |
Detonation mechanism | Contact, airburst |
| Blast yield | 475 kilotons of TNT (1,990 TJ) |
The W88 is an American thermonuclear warhead, with an estimated yield of 475 kilotons of TNT (1,990 terajoules), and is small enough to fit on missiles with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV). The W88 was designed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the 1970s and first placed into service in 1989. The director of Los Alamos who had presided over its development described it as "the most advanced U.S. nuclear warhead". The latest version is the W88 ALT 370, the first unit of which came into production on 1 July 2021, after 11 years of development. The Trident II, a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) can be armed with up to eight W88 warheads.