for Nuclear Deterrence
To provide the United States with flexible deterrence options across a wide range of conflict scenarios, the nuclear enterprise is developing new and advanced capabilities on accelerated timelines. This undertaking reflects the continual evolution of deterrence. As adversaries adjust their own nuclear postures, the United States continuously adapts its own, ensuring that our nuclear force is sufficient to deter aggression, reassure our allies and partners, and maintain global stability.
To react to changing deterrence requirements on a swifter timeline, NNSA established the Nuclear Deterrence Rapid Capabilities Team in 2025, drawing tools and expertise from across the enterprise. As part of this effort, our scientists and engineers are collaborating with counterparts at the Department of War to assess several new weapon concepts.
This initiative intends to deliver new deterrence options at a faster pace than traditional warhead acquisition programs. The team’s organizing principle is to compress the timeline for fielding new weapons from 10 years to within three to five.
The Rapid Capabilities Team is one of the most groundbreaking initiatives within the nuclear enterprise today, providing the means to design, prototype, and demonstrate future weapon systems for a modern deterrent. The weapon design and engineering work being performed under the program is pushing the bounds of what is possible and is being done much faster than at any rate since the end of the Cold War.
As America’s adversaries pursue a variety of exotic delivery vehicles, from long-range underwater drones to hypersonic glide vehicles, our scientists and engineers are working aggressively to ensure the continued preeminence of the U.S. deterrent.