In the past, Sandia held an important role in assessing complex processes and programs. But since the end of the Cold War, the role of system integrator has remained vacant. With changes recommended by Congress and the administration, Sandia is expanding its role in the area of technical support for integration. Sandia’s Responsive Infrastructure Team is supporting NNSA and its newly established Office of Transformation. The team’s activities are now addressing both near- and longterm mission needs, to develop a path forward to NNSA’s 2030 vision.
If launched, warheads would be subjected to violent shaking, increases in the pull of gravity up to seven times normal, weightlessness, and the thermal shocks of going from sub-zero temperatures in space to extremely high heat on reentry — all while traveling faster than the speed of a bullet.
Additionally, the scale of modern weapon electronics has become very small — sometimes measured in terms of the number of atoms. Very small systems, referred to as integrated, intelligent microsystems, can sense, process information, actuate other elements, and communicate — all within a single package. To support these needs, Sandia maintains a complete design, simulation, and testing capability.
At Sandia, a new effort is under way to better link internal weapon surety — the systems integrated within the functions and operations of the weapon — and external surety — the umbrella associated with weapons storage and handling. Called Integrated Surety, this concept links the internal capabilities and status of the weapon with capabilities and status of the external world, including transportation, storage, and deployment.