US-based BWX Technologies (BWXT) has been awarded contracts totalling approximately $2.1bn for the manufacture of reactor components under the US Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme. Component manufacture and material procurement activities for Columbia and Virginia class submarines, as well as Ford class aircraft carriers, will be undertaken at BWXT Nuclear Operations Group sites in Lynchburg, Virginia; Barberton and Euclid, Ohio; and Mount Vernon, Indiana, over an approximately seven-year period that began in 2023.
In addition to these contracts, production and delivery of fuel and support activities for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme is performed by BWXT’s Nuclear Fuel Services in Erwin, Tennessee. This $300m fuel contract was awarded in October 2023, with work scheduled for completion this year. Gary D Camper, BWXT Nuclear Operations Group President said: “For more than 70 years, BWXT has proudly supported the US Navy’s mission to defend freedom and uphold security across the globe.” said.
The US Navy is replacing its Ohio class ballistic missile submarines with Columbia class submarines while Los Angeles class submarines will eventually be replaced by Virginia class attack submarines. The aim is to increase the Virginia class production rate to two submarines a year by 2028, with a subsequent increase to 2.33 a year.
