Sandia Labs

A key component of the US nuclear deterrent has reached a major milestone as production of the first upgraded W88 Alt 370 nuclear warhead is completed. The warhead has received an improved arming mechanism, or “brain”, to extend its service life.

Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories have come up with a new design that addresses a number of shortcomings with current molten salt batteries, demonstrating one that can be constructed far more cheaply than currently available versions.

In a recent test of two major US defense initiatives, an F-35A Lightning II has dropped a mock refurbished B61-12 nuclear bomb for the first time. The bomb was released from an internal bay while the stealth fighter was flying at supersonic speed.

Sandia National Laboratories has successfully conducted a full-scale, rocket-sled crash test of the new semi-tractor-trailer truck that will be used to transport nuclear weapons inside the United States.

Researchers have created synthetic red blood cells that have all of the useful properties of the real thing, plus a few new tricks. These new cells could be put to work carrying oxygen or drugs through the body, sensing toxins, and other tasks.

Robotics engineers from Sandia National Laboratories are developing drones that can capture hostile drones in flight. The MARCUS project uses swarms of four unmanned quad-copters working in concert to intercept a drone and catch it in a net.

Researchers are looking to the common dragonfly for clues to develop smaller, more efficient missile defenses. By replicating the predatory insect's brain in a computer algorithm, the goal is to create interceptors that can lock on to threats much faster and achieve a much higher kill ratio.

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) has announced that it has set up an academic research coalition to help create artificially intelligent aerospace systems to control hypersonic missiles and other complicated vehicles in challenging environments.

A team of nine robots​ developed by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) has disassembled or "demilitarized" 700,000 submunitions at the US Army's Anniston Munitions Center Multiple Launch Rocket System Recycle Facility in Alabama.

Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons might be a staple of movies and video games, but they pose a very real threat. Sandia National Laboratories has developed a "friendly" EMP generator to make sure military and civilian equipment can withstand such potentially devastating bursts of​ energy​.

After a 15-year hiatus, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) is returning to flying sounding rockets. The centerpiece of the HOT SHOT program, the suborbital rocket launches are designed to cut the development time for new weapon systems by a third while lowering R&D costs.

In anticipation of the hydrogen economy of the future, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) is working on software models that will help hydrogen refueling stations switch from hydrogen gas to liquid hydrogen while implementing new, easier to follow safety standards.