BWXT manufactures naval reactors for U.S. nuclear-armed submarines and is involved in the management of U.S. nuclear weapons facilities.
Nuclear weapons
Since October 2024, a BWXT-led joint venture, PanTexas Deterrence, manages and operates the Pantex Plant, the primary U.S. site for nuclear weapons assembly.[i] The contract involves an initial term of five years and may span up to 20 years, with a potential value of $30.1 billion.[ii]
BWXT is also part of the Lawrence Livermore National Security consortium, that manages and operates the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the lead design agency for the life extension program for the life extension W80-4 cruise missile warhead (Long Range Standoff Weapon) and the modification program of the W87-1 warhead for the Sentinel.[iii] The contract was originally awarded in May 2007, and currently runs until at least September 2031, with a potential value of $93.3 billion.[iv]
In September 2025, BWXT Ordnance Tennessee was awarded a ten-year, $1.6 billion contract by the U.S. Department of Energy to produce high purity depleted uranium.[v] As stated by the Department of Energy “[t]his capability will supply the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) with depleted uranium for production use and will ensure NNSA’s ability to modernize and maintain the nuclear deterrent”.[vi] BWXT subsidiary, Nuclear Fuel Services Inc also holds a contract for domestic uranium enrichment for weapons activities.[vii]
BWX Technologies manufactures naval nuclear reactor components for U.S. submarines, including the nuclear armed Ohio and Columbia-class submarines.[viii] In July 2025, BWXT announced it had been awarded contracts totalling approximately $2.6 billion for this work.[ix] These contracts build on $2.1 billion in contract awards announced in February of the same year.[x]
[i] NNSA awards Pantex Management and Operating contract . Energy.gov, 13 June 2024. Available at: NNSA awards Pantex Management and Operating contract | Department of Energy; ‘PanTeXas Deterrence assumes leadership at Pantex Plant under new 20-year contract’, Amarillo Globe-News, 7 November 2024. Available at: PanTeXas Deterrence assumes leadership at Pantex Plant; CONTRACT to PANTEXAS DETERRENCE, LLC| USAspending, 13 June 2024. Available at: CONTRACT to PANTEXAS DETERRENCE, LLC | USAspending (Accessed: 24 October 2025).
[ii] CONTRACT to PANTEXAS DETERRENCE, LLC.| USAspending, 13 June 2024. Available at: CONTRACT to PANTEXAS DETERRENCE, LLC | USAspending (Accessed: 29 September 2025).
[iii] W80-4 Life Extension Program’(2023). National Nuclear Security Administration. Available at: W80-4_1123.pdf (energy.gov); ‘W87-1 Modification Program’ (2023). National Nuclear Security Administration. Available at: W87-1_1123.pdf; ‘Fiscal Year 2024 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan’, National Nuclear Security Administration (2023), pp. F-6 – F-7. Available at: FY24SSMP_FINAL_NOVEMBER_2023_0.pdf (energy.gov).
[iv] CONTRACT to LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.| USAspending, 9 May 2007. Available at: https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_DEAC5207NA27344_8900_-NONE-_-NONE- (Accessed: 25 August 2025).
[v] BWXT Awarded Contract to Produce High Purity Depleted Uranium for National Defense Purposes. BWX Technologies, 30 September 2025. Available at: BWXT Awarded Contract to Produce High Purity Depleted Uranium for National Defense Purposes - | People Strong. Innovation Driven.; CONTRACT to BWXT ORDNANCE TENNESSEE, INC. | USAspending, 1 October 2025. Available at: CONTRACT to BWXT ORDNANCE TENNESSEE, INC. | USAspending (Accessed: 24 October 2025).
[vi]NNSA Issues Award for High Purity Depleted Uranium Production. U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), 30 September 2025. Available at: NNSA Issues Award for High Purity Depleted Uranium Production | Department of Energy.
[vii] CONTRACT to NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES INC | USAspending, 3 December 2025. Available at: https://usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_89233123CNA000308_8900_-NONE-_-NONE- (Accessed: 7 April 2026).
[viii] Nuclear Power and Propulsion (no date) | BWX Technologies. Available at: Naval Nuclear Propulsion - | People Strong. Innovation Driven. (Accessed: 23 October 2025).
[ix] BWXT Announces $2.6 billion in Contracts for Naval Nuclear Reactor Components. BWX Technologies, 17 July 2025. Available at: BWXT Announces $2.6 billion in Contracts for Naval Nuclear Reactor Components - | People Strong. Innovation Driven.
[x] Ibid. See also BWXT Announces $2.1 Billion in Contracts for Naval Nuclear Reactor Components. BWX Technologies, 19 February 2025. Available at: BWXT Announces $2.1 Billion in Contracts for Naval Nuclear Reactor Components - | People Strong. Innovation Driven.
Last updated: 2026-06-08 14:19:30