AWE has today published its Partnering for National Defence 2025/26report, celebrating the partners and people who support its work in keeping the UK safe through nuclear science and technology.

AWE welcomes the Chief Nuclear Inspector’s Annual Report 24/25 published today (6 October). We are pleased to note that the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has reported continued and sustained progress across several key areas of regulatory focus, with the Aldermaston site moving to routine attention for nuclear safety in March 2025.

Young imaginations took centre stage as local primary school children showcased their vision of the future in a special art competition to celebrate AWE’s 75th anniversary.

Turn on your TV, scan your newsfeed and you will no doubt be faced with details of the most recent cyber-attack targeting a well-established organisation. Look in your emails, look at your messages and you will probably have been targeted by a phishing email or scam message. There is no escaping evidence of cyber-crime.

We are proud to play a central role in the UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy.

Can cutting edge technology help us connect with the past?

We’re proud to spotlight a challenge that brings together endurance, teamwork, and a shared commitment to making a difference.  

As part of our dedication to the CTBT and innovation in nuclear technology, we hosted The Radionuclide Monitoring Technical Workshop (RMTW), bringing together the best minds in nuclear testing detection to debate and discuss new techniques and the latest research. 

AWE is pleased to announce a new Strategic Alliance with The University of Manchester, marking a significant commitment to advancing research and innovation in nuclear science and technology. 

We welcome the Office for Nuclear Regulation’s decision to close the improvement notice, served last year following an incident on the Aldermaston site at our Explosive Technology Centre. There was no risk to the public or the environment from this incident.

Robert Kennedy, an undergraduate from the University of St Andrews, has been awarded the highly esteemed Materials Science Year in Industry Student Prize.

AWE Aldermaston has ‘met’ the ONR's expectations for climate resilience.

Joe Gilkes from the University of Warwick, has been recognised with two prestigious awards for his outstanding doctoral research.

As we mark our 75th anniversary, AWE welcomed The Rt Hon. John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence, to AWE Aldermaston.

AWE’s Jenny Boxwell and Dario Castiglione have been elected to key positions by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) membership. Jenny was elected as a Trustee of the RSC whilst Dario has joined the Professional Standards Board (PSB). Both will play an important role in the governance of the RSC.

In partnership with the Worshipful Company of Engineers and Engineers Trust, AWE is proud to announce Catherine Smith of Reliance Precision Limited as 2025 winner of the Defence Industry Early Careers Engineering Prize.

AWE has a lot to celebrate this International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), including several individual award wins, a collaboration with New Scientist, colleague networking events and the launch of a new internal digital collaboration safe space.

Post War 1950’s Britain saw short supplies of labour and materials of every kind. This formed part of the huge challenge faced by William Penney, who was tasked with creating the UK’s nuclear capability: AWE Aldermaston. 

Three people from AWE Nuclear Security Technologies feature in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

A team of AWE physicists and academics from the University of Oxford who have been collaborating for 20 years to solve a ‘grand challenge’ – which had proved elusive until now – have had their work published in the Journal of Applied Physics.