XW-35

The XW-35 was designed from the outset as a thermonuclear warhead for the first generation of ICBMs. Development was driven by the development of the Atlas missile, and when the accuracy of the Atlas was shown to be inferior to predictions the XW-35 design had to be altered to give a higher yield. By March 1958 the development of the XW-35-X1 was lagging. The XW-35-X1 was probably the device tested in the Koa shot of the Operation Hardtack I series (May 1958). Predicted yield was 1.75 megatons; the actual yield was 1.37 megatons with the shortfall due to poor burning of the secondary. By this time the Air Force had designated the XW-49, a simple modification of the TX-28 already successfully tested during the Redwing series. By August 1958 the first dedicated missile warhead design, the W-35, had been cancelled in favor of the W-49.

References

Hansen, Chuck, "Swords of Armageddon," Sunnyvale, CA, Chucklea Publications, 1995.

United States nuclear devices

Fission devices

World War II bombs	Gadget Little Boy Thin Man Fat Man

Post-war bombs	Mark III Mark 4 Mark 5 Mark 6 Mark 7 Mark 8 Mark 10 Mark 11 Mark 12 Mark 13 Mark 18 Mark 20

Primaries	Swan Python Robin Tsetse Kinglet

Post-war warheads	W4 W5 W7 W8 W9 W12 W13 W19 W23 W25 W44 W45 W48 W54 W70 W72 W74 W79 W82

Boosted fission devices

Warheads	W30 W31 W33 W34 W40

Thermonuclear devices

Bombs	Mark 14 Mark 15 TX-16 Mark 17 Mark 21 TX-22 Mark 24 Mark 26 Mark 27 B28 Mark 36 Mark 39 B41 B43 TX-46 B53 B57 B61 B77 B83 B90

Depth bombs	Mark 90 Mk 101 B57

Warheads	W15 W27 W28 TX-29 XW-35 W38 W39 W47 W49 W50 W52 W53 W55 W56 W58 W59 W62 W67 W68 W69 W71 W73 W76 W78 W80 W81 W84 W85 W86 W87 W88 W89 W91 RRW

Enhanced radiation devices

Warheads	W66 W70 Mod 3 W79 Mod 0 W82 Mod 0

Atomic demolition munitions

Mines	T-4 SADM TADM MADM