Naval Nuclear Propulsion

The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) naval reactors budget is entering a relative lull as development ramps down on reactor design for the Navy’s flagship Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program, according to the agency’s 2020 budget request. For Naval Reactors, which researches, develops, and manufactures reactors and refueling infrastructure for nuclear-powered Navy warships and submarines, […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) naval reactors budget is entering a relative lull as development ramps down on reactor design for the Navy’s flagship Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program, according to the agency’s 2020 budget request. For Naval Reactors, which researches, develops, and manufactures reactors and refueling infrastructure for nuclear-powered Navy warships and submarines, […]

By Richard Abott Defense Daily The Navy announced the establishment of Program Executive Office Columbia (PEO CLB) on Wednesday to better focus on the Navy’s “number one acquisition priority,” the new nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines. James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, said PEO CLB will provide oversight of construction […]

WASHINGTON — A Navy admiral and the head of U.S. Strategic Command sent conflicting signals in Washington on Tuesday about whether a botched welding job on long-lead parts of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine could spell delay for the Navy’s top procurement. BWX Technologies, which reported record earnings this week on early work as a […]

BWX Technologies, of Lynchburg, Va., said Monday it capped 2018 with better than 50-percent earnings growth after clinching more nuclear naval, environmental cleanup, and uranium downblending work from the Department of Energy. Company-wide net earnings came in at over $225 million in 2018, up more than 50 percent from just under $150 million in 2017. […]

WASHINGTON — A Navy admiral and the head of U.S. Strategic Command sent conflicting signals in Washington on Tuesday about whether a botched welding job on long-lead parts of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine could spell delay for the Navy’s top procurement. BWX Technologies, which reported record earnings this week on early work as a […]

BWX Technologies expects to finalize some $2 billion in nuclear naval nuclear propulsion contracts in the first quarter of 2019, the Lynchburg, Va., company announced Monday before financial markets opened. BWX Technologies’ Nuclear Operations Group and Nuclear Fuel Services “reached price agreements” on Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program contracts worth a combined $2.1 billion, with options, […]

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Gabe Anseeuw this month became military assistant and executive staff director to Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, Department of Energy undersecretary for nuclear security and administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Anseeuw replaced Cmdr. Christopher Osborn, who was Gordon-Hagerty’s interim right-hand for about six months. Osborn filled in after Capt. Owen Travis retired […]

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Gabe Anseeuw this month became military assistant and executive staff director to Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, Department of Energy undersecretary for nuclear security and administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Anseeuw replaced Cmdr. Christopher Osborn, who was Gordon-Hagerty’s interim right-hand for about six months. Osborn filled in after Capt. Owen Travis retired […]

The U.K. Defense Minister announced an additional $512 million (400 million British pounds) investment in funding for the nuclear armed ballistic missile Dreadnought-class submarine program on Thursday. The Defense Ministry said this new funding release supports the building phase of the program and will “safeguard” 8,000 jobs that support the submarine program and its supply chain. […]

As Pentagon officials and lawmakers mull the topline of the fiscal year 2020 defense budget, Huntington Ingalls Industries will be focused on ensuring the Navy’s next generation of nuclear submarines remains sufficiently funded without sacrificing other shipbuilding priorities, the company’s leader said. The forthcoming Columbia-class of nuclear submarines has been identified as a top service priority, said HII […]

The U.S. Navy has awarded Bechtel Plant Machinery $1.5 billion worth of contracts for naval nuclear propulsion components, the Pentagon announced Friday. The money is spread across a pair of Naval Sea Systems Command contracts: one worth about $890 million, another valued at roughly $615 million, according to the Department of Defense. “No completion date […]

The management and operations contractor for the Savannah River Site in South Carolina said it has enough job openings for more than half of the people who will be laid off as a result of the Department of Energy canceling construction of the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility. Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) “does have […]

Los Alamos National Laboratory management prime Triad National Security is whipping together plans for addressing the major weapons projects of the future and cleaning up after major lab faux pas of the past. Triad, a three-way partnership of Battelle, longtime Los Alamos operator the University of California, and Texas A&M University, took over as the […]

The U.S. Navy has awarded Bechtel Plant Machinery $1.5 billion worth of contracts for naval nuclear propulsion components, the Pentagon announced Friday. The money is spread across a pair of Naval Sea Systems Command contracts: one worth about $890 million, another valued at roughly $615 million, according to the Department of Defense. “No completion date […]

As Pentagon officials and lawmakers mull the topline of the fiscal year 2020 defense budget, Huntington Ingalls Industries will be focused on ensuring the Navy’s next generation of nuclear submarines remains sufficiently funded without sacrificing other shipbuilding priorities, the company’s leader said. The forthcoming Columbia-class of nuclear submarines has been identified as a top service priority, said HII […]

By Rich Abott Defense Daily A top Navy official confirmed the service is looking to fund the upcoming Columbia-class nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine program (SSBN) separately from the normal shipbuilding budget. Vice Adm. William Merz, Deputy Chief Of Naval Operations for Warfare Systems (OPNAV N9) told reporters following a Senate Armed Services Seapower subcommittee hearing on […]

The next-generation submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) to be featured on the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine will incorporate some elements of the current Trident D5 Life Extension (D5LE) weapon, a top Navy official said. Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe, director of Strategic Systems Programs (SSP), told the Naval Submarine League’s annual symposium Nov. 8 that the follow-on missile is […]

A top Navy official on Thursday said the next-generation submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) to be featured on the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine will incorporate some elements of the current Trident D5 Life Extension (D5LE) weapon. Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe, director of Strategic Systems Programs (SSP), told the Naval Submarine League’s annual symposium on Thursday the follow-on […]

Botching welds on 12 missile tubes for the Columbia-class submarine earlier this year proved a costly mistake for BWX Technologies, which on Wednesday said the problems with its welding program in Indiana were more complicated than first thought. On a conference call with investors, BWXT said its Nuclear Operations Group took a $40 million revenue hit in […]

Huntington Ingalls Industries said Tuesday its Newport News Shipbuilding had secure a roughly $200 million subcontract modification to provide long-lead components, including commodities materials, and labor for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine. Huntington Ingalls is a major subcontractor on General Dynamics Electric Boat’s roughly $5 billion Naval Sea Systems Command prime contract to develop and […]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The head of the joint Navy-Department of Energy naval reactors program said Wednesday construction on the first Columbia-class ballistic submarine will begin in 2021, but warned that “there will be problems” and that the Navy will “have to work hard to get her on patrol in 2031.” “We need Columbia boats,” Adm. […]

Huntington Ingalls Industries said Tuesday its Newport News Shipbuilding had secure a roughly $200 million subcontract modification to provide long-lead components, including commodities materials, and labor for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine. Huntington Ingalls is a major subcontractor on General Dynamics Electric Boat’s roughly $5 billion Naval Sea Systems Command prime contract to develop and […]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The head of the joint Navy-Department of Energy naval reactors program said Wednesday construction on the first Columbia-class ballistic submarine will begin in 2021, but warned that “there will be problems” and that the Navy will “have to work hard to get her on patrol in 2031.” “We need Columbia boats,” Adm. […]

George Rael, a longtime Energy Department and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) official, has joined Longenecker & Associates as a project manager at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico effective this week. Longenecker is a subcontractor to Triad National Security, which on Nov. 1 took over as the NNSA’s management and operations […]

The head of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s naval reactors program, steward of the heavy-industry programs that provide nuclear propulsion systems for the Navy, is scheduled to speak Wednesday to industry and press just outside Washington, D.C., at the 36th annual Naval Submarine League conference. Adm. James Caldwell is on the slate for a half-hour […]

Lynchburg, Va.-based BWX Technologies has selected executive David Brown to head a joint venture, BWSR LLC, focused on decommissioning and tearing down facilities at Naval Nuclear Laboratory sites. As president of BWSR, Brown will lead the 250-person BWXT Technical Services Group-APTIM Federal Services team that provides cleanup at sites under contract to Fluor Marine Propulsion […]

Lynchburg, Va.-based BWX Technologies has named David Brown to lead a joint venture, BWSR LLC, focused on decommissioning and tearing down facilities at Naval Nuclear Laboratory sites. Brown will lead the 250-person BWXT Technical Services Group-APTIM Federal Services team that provides cleanup at sites under contract to Fluor Marine Propulsion in Idaho, Pennsylvania, and New […]

Rich Abott Defense Daily The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) a $481 million modification on last Thursday for more Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) program long-lead time work. The cost-plus-fixed-fee modification is in preparation for FY 2019 and 2020 lead-ship advance procurement, advance construction, and long-lead time material funding for the Columbia-class. […]

The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) awarded General Dynamics [GD] Electric Boat (GDEB) a $481 million modification on last Thursday for more Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) program long-lead time work. The cost-plus-fixed-fee modification is in preparation for FY 2019 and 2020 lead-ship advance procurement, advance construction, and long-lead time material funding for the Columbia-class. This award for the […]