The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently published a National Security Snapshot: Oversight of the DoD Nuclear Enterprise, which will be of interest to our nuclear enterprise focused life cycle logistics, product support, and sustainment community.

The GAO highlighted four nuclear enterprise modernization efforts: the Sentinel land-based missile system; the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine; the B-52 Stratofortress; and the B-21 Raider. With the exception of the B-52, which is undergoing an engine replacement, the other three programs are recapitalizing (replacing) legacy systems, namely the Minuteman III, Ohio-class submarine, and B-2 Spirit, respectively.

The report noted DoD’s assessment that “nuclear enterprise problems do not exist in isolation and require a coordinated, holistic approach to resolve” and “modernizing aging weapon systems … could cost up to $350 billion over the next 20 years.”