anon,
The Inert Component System
Sandia Laboratory, operated by Sandia Corporation, remained the development agency
for inert bomb and warheadinstallation components of all weapon types. It would eventually
retain only technical functions, plus developmental or prototype fabrication and assembly.
Kansas City plant, operated by Bendix Aviation, was becoming the production agency
for mechanical and electronic components. It might eventually have full responsibility, sub-

ject to AEC controls and to Sandia technical supervision,

As of July 1, 1953, it had responsi-

bility for: Some measure of process engineering; procurement from private industry; logistic
support of HE plants; inert fabrication and assembly; and some base spares procurement.
The Pattern of Organization for Other Weapons Types

During the three years prior to July 1953, SFO developed and produced gun-type weapons
and missile warhead installations, and conducted an extensive thermonuclear development
program. The preceding paragraphs on development of the SFO organization for contractor
operations dealt essentially with the organization for implosion-type weapons. There,were
variations and there were responsibilities assigned elsewhere as far as gun-type, missile
warhead installation, and thermonuclear activities were concerned,

briefly below,

These are described

Gun-Type Weapons Manufacture
A penetration weapon program was operated jointly by SFO and the Navy. LASL was
responsible for the nuclear phases. Sandia had responsibility for final design, environmental

testing, development of handling equipment, and certain technical studies of fuzing and weapon
effects, The Navy performed development and related production of the gun mechanism and
ordnance,

Active work on development of an artillery-fired atomic projectile began after mid1950, It was a joint LASL-Sandia program, with Picatinny Arsenal handling the bulk of the
development work under SFO guidance,
As of July 1, 1953, responsibility for future gun-type work was divided: LASL and
Rocky Flats, nuclear development and production; and Armed Forces (Army and Navy), nonnuclear design and production.
Missile Warhead Installations

Sandia Laboratory has been engaged actively in the development of atomic warhead

installations for missiles, both guided and free ballistic, since October 1950. Inasmuch as
the basic explosive system is in general identical with other implosion-type bombs, LASL
has not needed to conduct developmental programs, Sandia now acting as the LASL agent in

this respect.

Future developments may bring LASL directly into the picture, as for anti-

aircraft missiles.

a

Following considerable exploratory work, the Military Liaison Committee Tequested
in November 1950 that atomic warheads be developed for a number of specified missiles.

It became immediately apparent that in addition to problems associated with the basic war-

head, integration of the missile guidance system and the warhead arming and fuzing system

would constitute a major ‘area of investigation and development; and that, aside from technical questions, division of development and production responsibilities between SFO and DOD
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