Mission
To replace obsolete equipment and develop new test capabilities and facilities at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico, to support Department of Defense (DoD)’s Nuclear Effects Test and Evaluation (T&E) requirements. These capabilities will help ensure that the military’s tactical and strategic systems will survive nuclear threats.
Description
Nuclear Effects Test and Evaluation must address survivability requirements from a number of simulated nuclear threat mechanisms to include neutrons, gamma rays, x-rays, Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and thermal. The Nuclear Effects Test Capability Modernization (NETCM) program will replace obsolete test equipment and develop new test capabilities and facilities at WSMR that ensure evolving U.S. systems can survive nuclear threats. Such developments will include an improved relativistic electron beam accelerator, an enhanced linear accelerator, an improved solar thermal test facility, improvements to the gamma range facility and the various diagnostic, and assessment facilities used to quantify radiation effects. The new capabilities will better meet existing and future test requirements while vastly improving test accuracy and efficiency. When complete, the upgraded facilities at WSMR will represent a comprehensive and world-class nuclear effects test capability.
System Interdependencies
None
Foreign Military Sales
None