Skip to content

25 March 2024 | 1 minute read


25 March 2024 | 1 minute read


Features, Homepage, Latest News

Share this

This is an archived news story which is over 12 months old and may contain out of date information

AWE welcomes publication of DNE Command Paper

AWE welcomes publication of the Government’s Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper which announces the ‘national endeavour’ to secure the future of the UK’s thriving defence and civil nuclear industry.

The Prime Minister made the announcement today (March 25) saying: “Our nuclear deterrent has been the cornerstone of our national security, protecting our values and way of life, for more than 70 years. It has protected the UK and our Allies from the most extreme acts of aggression and nuclear blackmail from our adversaries. Our deterrent is more relevant now than ever before. We face new and diverse challenges from nuclear-armed states that make deterrence as critical today as it was in the last century.”

He added: “Renewing the UK’s deterrent is a monumental undertaking that safeguards our security and enhances our prosperity. One that requires a truly national endeavour.”

Through the use of nuclear science and technology, AWE supports the delivery of a credible nuclear deterrent and is responsible for the manufacture, maintenance and development of UK sovereign warheads.

In 2023, the UK completed an update of its warhead, transitioning from the Mk4 to the Mk4A by replacing non-nuclear components. The Mk4 warheads are being disassembled and their component elements reused, recycled or safely disposed of.

AWE has commenced work on a sovereign replacement warhead, as part of an evolutionary cycle that ensures the UK has an in-service warhead that can be safely assured from design to disposal.

Read more: Delivering the UK’s National Deterrent as a National Endeavour

More news

Latest News

Strategic Alliance Partners Conference hits the mark

Senior representatives from AWE, the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) and the university community gathered at the recently held Strategic Alliance Partners Conference to discuss and debate areas of STEM that support our mission. The two-day event organised by the External Technical Partnerships Office brought together government, academia, […]

Features

Strengthening International Ties

International collaboration is vital in strengthening national defence and nuclear security and despite the high levels of security involved, collaboration amongst allies is strong. At AWE, a dedicated team of experts, advisors and business managers govern regular exchanges with international partners to facilitate collaboration and cooperation, and support research and development in nuclear science and […]

A seismology graph

Latest News

Detecting the undetectable

At AWE Blacknest, experts in forensic seismology work behind the scenes to support the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Their mission? To detect and verify potential nuclear tests worldwide by analysing seismic data. Our seismologists play a key role in upholding global security and arms control through cutting-edge research, international collaboration, and advanced monitoring techniques.

Search Sitemap