---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6135"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "6135"
heading: "W93 nuclear warhead acquisition process"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/6135"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part VI — Elements of Department of Defense and Other Matters"
  - "Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense"
  - "Chapter 602 — Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Matters"
  - "Subchapter I — Stockpile Stewardship and Weapons Production"
---

# §6135. W93 nuclear warhead acquisition process

- (a) **Reporting Requirements.—**
  - (1) Upon receiving a concept definition study under phase 1 of the joint nuclear weapons life cycle for the W93 nuclear weapon, the Nuclear Weapons Council shall submit to the [congressional defense committees](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-16) a report that [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4) the following:
    - (A) A description of the potential [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) characteristics of the weapon.
    - (B) A description of the stockpile-to-target sequence requirements of the weapon.
    - (C) An initial assessment of the requirements a W93 nuclear weapon [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) is likely to generate for the nuclear security enterprise, including—
      - (i) adjustments to the size and composition of the workforce;
      - (ii) additions to existing weapon design and production capabilities; or
      - (iii) additional [facility](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) recapitalization or new construction.
    - (D) A preliminary description of other significant requirements for a W93 nuclear weapon [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1), including—
      - (i) first production unit date;
      - (ii) initial operational capability date;
      - (iii) full operational capability date; and
      - (iv) any unique safety and surety requirements that could increase design complexity or cost estimate uncertainty.
  - (2)
    - (A) Not later than 15 days after the date on which the Nuclear Weapons Council approves phase 2 of the joint nuclear weapons life cycle for the W93 nuclear weapon, the [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) shall provide to the [congressional defense committees](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-16) a briefing on a plan to implement a process of independent peer review or review by a board of experts, or both, with respect to—
      - (i) the nonnuclear [components](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) of the weapon;
      - (ii) subsystem design; and
      - (iii) engineering aspects of the weapon.
    - (B) The [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) shall ensure that the process required by [subparagraph (A)](#a-2-A)—
      - (i) uses—
        - (I) all relevant capabilities of the Federal Government, the defense industrial base, and institutions of higher education; and
        - (II) other capabilities that the [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) determines necessary; and
      - (ii) informs the entire development life cycle of the W93 nuclear weapon.
- (b) **Certifications and Reports at Phase 3.—** Not later than 15 days after the date on which the Nuclear Weapons Council approves phase 3 of the joint nuclear weapons life cycle for the W93 nuclear weapon—
  - (1) the [administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) shall provide to the [congressional defense committees](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-16) a briefing that [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4) certifications that—
    - (A) phases 1 through 5 of the joint nuclear weapons life cycle for the weapon will employ, at a minimum, the same best practices and will provide Congress with the same level of programmatic insight as exists under the phase 6.X process for life extension [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1); and
    - (B) the proposed design for the weapon can be carried out within estimated schedule and cost objectives; and
  - (2) the Commander of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) Strategic Command shall submit to the [congressional defense committees](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-16) a report containing, or provide to such committees a briefing on, the requirements for weapon quantity and composition by type for the sub-surface ballistic nuclear (SSBN) force, including such requirements planned for the 15-year period following the date of the report or briefing, as the case may be, including any planned life extensions, retirements, or alterations.
- (c) **Waivers.—** Subsections [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b) may be waived during a period of war declared by Congress after January 1, 2021.
- (d) **Joint Nuclear Weapons Life Cycle Defined.—** In this section, the term “joint nuclear weapons life cycle” has the meaning given that term in section 6131.

## Source credit

(Added and amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), (d)(2), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1370, 1462.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2538e of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).

### Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(d)(2)(B), realigned margins.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(d)(2)(A), struck out par. (1) heading which read as follows: “Phase 1”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(d)(2)(A), struck out headings for par. (2) “Phase 2” and subpars. (A) and (B) “In general” and “Requirements for process”, respectively.