Adm. Trost issued a revised Insensitive Munitions policy document79 on 27 June 1989. This was a complete revision of the Navy policy. The 1995 goal for complete transition to IM was dropped and the policy was changed to read as follows:
“a. All Navy munitions, in research and development or product improvement programs, shall be designed to meet the prevailing technical requirements for IM, as specified by Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command… instructions. Operational capability must be maintained, but every reasonable effort must be made to meet operational requirements with the least sensitive energetic materials available.
b. Munitions in the current inventory or production shall be modified to meet the requirements for IM .. …when the modification is technically, operationally, and fiscally feasible. Modification programs shall emphasize the 15 highest priority munitions as determined by the Insensitive Munitions Council [IMC]. Retrofit programs shall be executed when the modification can be performed during the normal maintenance cycle.
c. All programmatic actions pertaining to munition acquisition and development will comply with existing policies, procedures and all documentation will reflect the insensitivity requirement. In addition, all milestone reviews for munitions shall address insensitivity, including transition costs and alternatives.”
The new OPNAV instruction did not identify the 15 highest priority munitions. They had been identified previously and listed on the “IM Zealots” cards as: GP Bombs, HARM, HARPOON, MAVERICK, MK 46 Torpedo. MK 48 Torpedo, Mk 50 Torpedo (ALWT), PHOENIX, SEALANCE, SHRIKE, SPARROW, Standard Missile, ROCKEYE, WALLEYE, and 5″/54 Ammunition. We should note that this list changes from time to time as the OPNAV Insensitive Munitions Council reviews it and makes changes.
This new OPNAV directive removed the target year of 1995 for complete transition to IM. A serious attempt to comply with the policy was still mandatory. Earlier the Insensitive Munitions Council, IMC, was required to publish an annual report summarizing its activities and the status of the IM program. The new instruction required that the IMC “…submit an annual report (by fiscal year) to the Chief of Naval Operations, summarizing its activities and the status of the IM program”. The new instruction also formalized and strengthened the waiver and POA&M process.
On 5 December 1989, NAVSEA issued NAVSEAINST 8010.5B to accommodate the changes in the new OPNAV policy and revise the organization and procedures for planning and executing the Navy IM program. In addition, the document redefined the responsibilities of the NAVSEA IM Working Group, and established formal reporting requirements and formats.
The IM requirements for an electromagnetic radiation vulnerability assessment and the testing of explosives and propellants in generic cases were dropped. Only the tests specified in the then unpublished MIL-STD-2105A (Navy) were required. Drafts of the MIL-STD were distributed by NAVSEA for use pending its publication as a Joint Service document.
79OPNAVINST 8010.13B, OP-354, Department of the Navy Policy on Insensitive Munitions, dated 27 June 1989.