# § 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 a report that includes the following:
**(A)** A description of the potential military 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 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 recapitalization or new construction.
**(D)** A preliminary description of other significant requirements for a W93 nuclear weapon program, 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 shall provide to the congressional defense committees 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 of the weapon;
**(ii)** subsystem design; and
**(iii)** engineering aspects of the weapon.
**(B)** The Administrator shall ensure that the process required by subparagraph (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 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 shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing that includes 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; 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 Strategic Command shall submit to the congressional defense committees 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) and (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.
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**Source Credit**: (Added and amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), (d)(2), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1370, 1462.)
## Editorial Notes
### Prior Provisions
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in , War and National Defense, prior to repeal by .
### Amendments
2025—, realigned margins.
Subsec. (a)(1). , struck out par. (1) heading which read as follows: “ 1”.
Subsec. (a)(2). , struck out headings for par. (2) “ 2” and subpars. (A) and (B) “” and “”, respectively.