The W87 is an American thermonuclear missile warhead formerly deployed on the LGM-118A Peacekeeper ("MX") ICBM. 50 MX missiles were built, each carrying up to 10 W87 warheads in multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV), and were deployed from 1986 to 2005.

Sep 1, 2001 · The W87 warhead belongs to the newest missile warhead family, sharing a design similar to the W88. It was designed for use on the Peacekeeper (MX) ICBM. It combines a relatively high yield with increased accuracy to make it an effective hard target kill weapon.

Mar 8, 2019 · By replacing the legacy W78, the W87-1 will maintain continuity for the ground-based leg of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. The warhead is named the W87-1 to reflect that it has a similar primary design to the W87-0 and will fly in a similar reentry vehicle.

Oct 2, 2024 · The W87-1 warhead supports the Department of Defense’s Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which will be part of the land-based leg of the nation’s nuclear deterrent and replaces the Minuteman III ICBMs.

The W87 warhead is the most current warhead deployed within the Air Force's ICBM weapon system. The W87 was designed and developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL. The design process of the W87 began in February 1982.

Oct 1, 2020 · The W87-1 Mod will replace the W78 thermonuclear warhead with a modified design of the W87 warhead. The W78 is nearing the end of its functional lifespan after 37 years in service, perched atop the Air Force’s Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

Lawrence Livermore will deliver the first newly manufactured nuclear warhead in three decades, which will replace the aging W78, meet military requirements, improve safety and security, and transform the Nuclear Security Enterprise through innovative collaborations.

Despite the US withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and the subsequent Russian withdrawal from the START II on 14 June 2002, the last Peacekeeper missile was deactivated on 19 September 2005. Their advanced W87 warheads were moved to the Minuteman III.

This first fully qualified plutonium pit for the W87-1 nuclear warhead was “diamond stamped” after meeting all requirements, signifying its readiness for deployment to the U.S. nuclear stockpile at “war reserve” quality.

Jul 31, 2023 · The W87-1 will replace the aging W78 warhead by deploying a modified version of the legacy W87-0 design. Following authorization from the Nuclear Weapons Council in September 2018, the W87-1 restarted Phase 6.2, Feasibility …