U.S. Nuclear Weapon “Pit” Production Options for Congress

"A “pit” is the plutonium core of a nuclear weapon. Until 1989, the Rocky Flats Plant (CO) mass-

produced pits. Since then, the United States has made at most 11 pits per year (ppy). U.S. policy

is to maintain existing nuclear weapons. To do this, the Department of Defense states that it needs

the Department of Energy (DOE), which maintains U.S. nuclear weapons, to produce 50-80 ppy

by 2030. While some argue that few if any new pits are needed, at least for decades, this report

focuses on options to reach 80 ppy..."

U.S. Nuclear weapons