Hard and Deeply Buried Target Defeat System (HDBTDS) Prototyping

The Hard and Deeply Buried Target Defeat System (HDBTDS) Prototyping program, managed by the Air Force, seeks to address a capability gap identified in the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review. This initiative involves collaboration between the Air Force and the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), along with its National Laboratories. The primary objective is to develop a prototype air-delivered nuclear delivery system, known as NDS-A, to demonstrate the ability to meet specific nuclear posture objectives.

The program focuses on several key goals. It conducts Modeling and Simulation (M&S) analyses of various nuclear explosive package options to refine the proposed design. Additionally, it involves designing and procuring components necessary for building Environmental Test Units (ETUs) and Joint Test Assemblies (JTAs), which are crucial for ground and flight testing phases. These efforts aim to ensure that the system meets nuclear weapon environmental standards from storage through detonation while maintaining reliability and target defeat capabilities.

To support these objectives, the Air Force will provide test resources such as ground test facilities and aircraft like the F-15E and B-2 for developmental flight tests. The program requires close interagency coordination to produce a prototype that can transition rapidly to a fielded system. Considerations during development include nuclear surety, maintenance, logistics, and refinement of military characteristics to ensure producibility.

Following successful flight test demonstrations, the program aims to mature developmental hardware to meet nuclear system quality standards and ensure compliance with nuclear surety requirements. It will also focus on maturing aircraft interfaces, including Aircraft Monitor and Control functions, as part of its engineering and manufacturing development tasks prior to full-rate production.