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Y-12 finishes first production unit for B61-12 bomb

Posted at 5:43 pm January 21, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Employees at Y-12 National Security Complex recently completed the first production unit of the B61-12. This refurbishment will extend the life of this strategic weapon for 20 years. (Submitted photo)

Employees at Y-12 National Security Complex recently completed the first production unit of the B61-12. This refurbishment will extend the life of this strategic weapon for 20 years. (Submitted photo)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:45 a.m. Jan. 22.

Canned subassembly certified four months ahead of schedule

The Y-12 National Security Complex on Monday said it has completed a major milestone in efforts to refurbish components for a strategic nuclear weapons system that is vital to the U.S. nuclear deterrent.

The first production unit for a bomb called the B61-12 was certified at Y-12 on December 6, 2018.

The work is part of the B61 Life Extension Program, or LEP. The B61 is a nuclear bomb that can be carried on several types of military aircraft. The B61 LEP will extend the life of this strategic weapon for 20 years, said Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, which manages and operates Y-12 for the National Nuclear Security Administration.

B61 bombs are the oldest nuclear weapons in the nation’s active stockpile. They have been in service almost 50 years, and critical components of the bombs are reaching the end of their operational lives. The B61 was first “fielded” in 1968, and current modifications were fielded between 1979 and 1991, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, National Nuclear Security Administration, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: B61, B61 LEP, B61 Life Extension Program, B61-12, B61-12 LEP, B61-12 Life Extension Program, Bill Tindal, Boeing Tail Kit Assembly, canned subassembly, CNS, Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, LEP, Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, NNSA Production Office, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, nuclear weapons, Pantex Plant, secondary, thermonuclear weapons, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Government Accountability Office, U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, weapon stockpile, Y-12 National Security Complex

Y-12 approved for B61-12 weapons work

Posted at 11:14 am October 21, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Image from U.S. Government Accountability Office report in May 2018 on B61-12 Nuclear Bomb.

Image from U.S. Government Accountability Office report in May 2018 on the B61-12 nuclear bomb.

 

Image from U.S. Government Accountability Office report in May 2018 on B61-12 Nuclear Bomb.

Image from U.S. Government Accountability Office report in May 2018 on the B61-12 nuclear bomb.

 

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge has been approved to produce a major component of a nuclear bomb known as the B61-12.

The approval was the final step to authorize the manufacturing and delivery of the first production unit of a component called the canned subassembly. It’s scheduled for March 2019, according to Y-12. A canned subassembly is the second stage of a modern thermonuclear weapon, and it is part of the nuclear explosives package.

The Y-12 work is part of the B61-12 Life Extension Program, which will consolidate four versions of the bomb into one. The bombs could be carried on B-2A bomber aircraft and F-15Es, several types of F-16s, and PA-200 fighters, and in the future, F-35s and B-21s.

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Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Premium Content, Slider, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: B61, B61-12, B61-12 LEP, B61-12 Life Extension Program, Bill Tindal, Boeing Tail Kit Assembly, canned subassembly, DOE, GAO, Kansas City National Security Campus, LEP, life extension program, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Nuclear Security Administration, NATO, NNSA, NNSA Production Office, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, nuclear bomb, nuclear explosives package, nuclear weapons, Pantex Plant, qualification evaluation release, Ronald G. Allen Jr., Sandia National Laboratories, Savannah River Site, secondary, Steven Wyatt, thermonuclear weapons, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Y-12 National Security Complex

With $3 billion in savings expected, not clear how much saved at Y-12, Pantex so far

Posted at 6:45 pm November 6, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Y-12 National Security Complex

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge is pictured above. (File photo/B&W Y-12)

 

More than $3 billion in savings are expected during a decade, but it’s not clear yet how much money has been saved after three years under a consolidated contract at two nuclear weapons plants in Tennessee and Texas.

The savings of $3.27 billion are expected under a contract that could last 10 years at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas.

On Monday, officials said Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, the contractor at the two sites, has generated significant savings in three fiscal years, although it’s not clear exactly how much they’ve saved. CNS has managed and operated Y-12 and Pantex Plant since July 1, 2014.

Federal officials announced the expected savings of $3.27 billion during a decade when the five-year contract was announced in January 2013. Officials said the consolidated contract, the result of years of work, could save money in part by eliminating redundancies in such areas as human resources, purchasing, finance, and information technology. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, National Nuclear Security Administration, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: ATK Launch Systems Inc., B&W Y-12, B61, B61 Life Extension Program, Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Pantex LLC, Bechtel National Inc., Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., CNS, consolidated contract, Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, cost savings, DOE, Ellen Boatner, Lockheed Martin Services Inc., National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, NNSA Production Office, Pantex Plant, Savannah River Tritium Operations, savings, SOC LLC, tritium operations, U.S. Department of Energy, UPF, uranium processing facility, Y-12 National Security Complex

NNSA: 2013 a year of important accomplishments, improvements

Posted at 11:06 pm January 7, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Guest Columns Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As 2014 begins, the National Nuclear Security Administration has released a list of some of its most important accomplishments and improvements during the past year. NNSA reached significant milestones in the areas of nonproliferation and counterterrorism, made a host of significant achievements through its work with the United States’ nuclear weapons stockpile, and saw improved operations throughout the complex.

“In 2013, even with a challenging budget situation, NNSA’s successes ensured that the United States’ nuclear weapons stockpile is safe, secure and effective; saved taxpayers millions of dollars; and supported emergency preparedness and the next generation of nuclear security workers,” said NNSA Acting Administrator Bruce Held. “Our people, both our government employees and the employees in our government-owned labs and plants, have done great work executing our mission and improving the way we do business.”

NNSA’s 2013 list highlights accomplishments in operations and at its sites, international partnerships to support nonproliferation and removals of dangerous materials, and emergency preparedness trainings and university programs. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Columns, Opinion Tagged With: 2013, B61, Bruce Held, Climate Action Plan, counterterrorism, emergency training, Global Threat Reduction Initiative, GTRI, HEU, highly enriched uranium, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LEU, life extension program, Los Alamos National Laboratory, low enriched uranium, Megatons to Megawatts Program, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, nonproliferation, nuclear bomb, nuclear warheads, nuclear weapons, Pantex Plant, R&D 100 Awards, R&D Magazine, Sandia National Laboratories, U.S.-Russia HEU Purchase Agreement, Y-12 National Security Complex

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Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

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