AWE Nuclear Security Technologies exhibited at Farnborough International Airshow 2024 (FIA2024) and engaged with the best of British industry while hosting a range of industry activities in support of colleagues from across the organisation.
We raised awareness of our upcoming infrastructure and Replacement Warhead programmes, looking at future partnerships and procurement opportunities and let the pioneers of tomorrow know about job and career opportunities. All of this required collective imagination, creativity, innovation, exploration, experimentation and commitment in order to develop technologies, techniques and processes that have never been tried or tested before.
We operate in a highly regulated environment where safety, quality and security sit at the forefront of our purpose to protect the UK through nuclear science and technology. Our quality standards are of the highest calibre, demonstrated by the organisation achieving the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPs) Gold Award, one of only nine organisations globally to do so.
With an inability for full scale testing, it is critical we know our deterrent will perform as expected now and for the years to come. This is why we have a right first-time mindset and commitment to improvement. We know that working with our supply chain can help us deliver our high value, high precision, and high quality components, and we are committed to growing a resilient and diverse supply base.
Replacement Warhead
In March 2024 the Government published the Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper which stated that AWE has commenced work on a sovereign replacement warhead, as part of an evolutionary cycle that ensures we have an in-service warhead that can be safely assured from design to disposal. The Replacement Warhead programme has been designated the A21/Mk7 (also known as Astraea).
The Astraea team is interested in accessing capability in:
- Manufacturing (including high precision engineering and materials development)
- Testing and Evaluation (including digital support)
- Human Resource partnerships
AWE produces its own fissile and explosives items in regulated areas, to high safety standards. Other classified components are manufactured on-site from ‘conventional materials’ including:
- Ceramics
- Rubbers / plastics / polymers
- Foams
- Metals incl. Titanium; Al Alloy; Stainless Steel
- Graphite
- Composites
- Polyurethane
We require a broad range of conventional and unconventional capabilities including:
- ‘Standard machining’ of metal/plastic
- Precision machining (~1 micron level)
- Graphite machining
- Joining / welding
- Hydroforming
- Injection moulding
- Heat treatment
- Chemical transformation / recovery
- Plating / coating / spray drying
- Additive manufacturing
- Destructive / non-destructive inspection
Infrastructure
Our engineers work with our partners in construction, structural and civil engineering to deliver modern facilities and infrastructure that support our future programme requirements. Working with our partners in construction and building services enables us to create the right environment to support the lifecycle of the warhead. We also work with our regulators as part of our commitment to support our processes, operations and our people – safely and securely.
We have three major infrastructure programmes:
Future Materials Campus (FMC)
The FMC programme will renew AWE’s existing facilities for the manufacture and storage of nuclear components, improve science and analysis capabilities, and invest in new capabilities for nuclear material recovery.
Future Infrastructure Programme (FIP)
FIP will focus on delivering AWE’s wider infrastructure needs in relation to new office accommodation, laboratories, testing facilities, site services and advanced manufacturing facilities for non-nuclear components.
Liabilities Management
our sites have been operating for a number of decades and as a result many facilities are reaching the end of their operational life. Liabilities Management run programmes to safely decommission and demolish these legacy facilities and manage the wastes generated.
Job and Career Opportunities
FIA2024 also features a public access STEM-focused day where we’ll be inspiring and engaging the pioneers of the future; the next generation of aerospace, space, defence and technology leaders. From science and engineering to manufacturing and business services – it’s highly likely we’ve got a role to suit you.
Further Information
Please be mindful AWE will consider security requirements as a pre-requisite prior to sharing information on a prospective commercial opportunity, part of a formalised tender process, or necessary security measures/handling prior to contract award.
Depending on the nature and characteristics of the goods, service or works being provided the security obligations may become stricter. AWE will support suppliers, where possible, to ensure these obligations are met. It is essential that our suppliers safeguard the integrity and security of their own systems and capabilities and comply with AWE standards and guidance including application of the security classifications policy. We expect all parts of our supply chain, whether direct suppliers or sub-contractors, to have applied sensible and proportionate cyber security measures. As a minimum we would expect all suppliers to have Cyber Essentials.
Similarly, due to the security implications of our work, AWE has restrictions in place with regards to working with certain sovereign states. UK nationals and UK based business may find it easier to work with AWE due to these restrictions, but we can, in certain instances work with suppliers from around the world.
Due to the nature of AWE’s work, we have a number of security requirements that need to be met by our suppliers.
Supply Chain
We are developing how we engage and partner with our supply chain to ensure we can sustain our mission for the long-term.