Huntington Ingalls Industries is involved in the management and operation of several facilities responsible for the production, development and stockpiling of U.S. nuclear weapons.
Nuclear weapons
The Los Alamos National Laboratory is responsible for the nuclear design and engineering and life extension programmes for U.S. nuclear warheads.[i] As a subcontractor of the joint venture Triad National Security[ii], Huntington Ingalls Industries provides “personnel, systems, tools and corporate reachback in the areas of pit production, plutonium manufacturing, production scale-up and nuclear operations and manufacturing” for the Los Alamos Laboratory.[iii] The contract has a potential value of $38.8 billion and is expected to run until at least October 2028.[iv] In 2023, the NNSA also approved the start of the construction of infrastructure to allow for the production of plutonium pits,[v] yet this has now been put on hold after the South Carolina District Court ruled the NNSA had violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by failing to properly analyse alternatives.[vi]
Formerly known as the Nevada Test Site, the Nevada National Security Site maintains facilities related to nuclear weapon modernisation and stockpiling. It retains the capability to resume full-scale nuclear testing within a couple years, at the discretion of the U.S. President.[vii] Mission Support and Test Services LLC (MSTS) manages and operates the site.[viii] MSTS is a limited liability company consisting of Honeywell International Inc., Jacobs Solutions Inc., and Stoller Newport News Nuclear, Inc. (SN3), a subsidiary of HII. [ix] The ten-year contract is potentially valued at $10.4 billion and is set to expire in November 2027.[x]
Through SN3, HII is also involved in the joint venture managing and operating the Savannah River Site and Savannah River National Laboratory[xi], which produces tritium and is currently being expanded to also include plutonium pit production, both critical components for nuclear weapons.[xii] In September 2022, this contract, which has a potential value of $36.1 billion, was extended for another five years.[xiii]
[i] ‘Fiscal Year 2024 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan’, National Nuclear Security Administration (2023), p. F-15. Available at: FY24SSMP_FINAL_NOVEMBER_2023_0.pdf (energy.gov).
[ii] The joint venture includes two integrated subcontractors: Huntington Ingalls Industries and Fluor, and three small business subcontractors: Longenecker & Associates, Merrick-SMSI and TechSource. See About Us (no date) | Triad National Security, LLC. Available at: https://triadns.org/ (Accessed: 5 December 2024).
[iii] Ibid. See also Huntington Ingalls Industries to Support New Management Contract at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Huntington Ingalls Newsroom, 10 July 2018. Available at: https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/releases/huntington-ingalls-industries-to-support-new-management-contract-at-los-alamos-national-laboratory.
[iv] CONTRACT to TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC.| USAspending, 8 June 2018. Available at: https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_89233218CNA000001_8900_-NONE-_-NONE- (Accessed: 23 January 2025). See also NNSA announces extension of terms for Los Alamos National Laboratory management and operating contract. Energy.gov, 6 December 2022. Available at: NNSA announces extension of terms for Los Alamos National Laboratory management and operating contract | Department of Energy.
[v] NNSA approves start of construction for plutonium pit production subproject at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Energy.gov, 9 February 2023. Available at: NNSA approves start of construction for plutonium pit production subproject at Los Alamos National Laboratory | Department of Energy.
[vi] Historic Settlement Reached in NEPA Lawsuit Over Plutonium “Pit” Bomb Core Production. NukeWatch, 27 January 2025. Available at: Settlement Reached in Historic NEPA Lawsuit Over Plutonium “Pit” Bomb Core Production.
[vii] ‘Fiscal Year 2024 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan’, National Nuclear Security Administration (2023), pp. 4-20 - 4-21. Available at: FY24SSMP_FINAL_NOVEMBER_2023_0.pdf (energy.gov).
[viii] Nevada National Security Site Contract (2017) Energy.gov. Available at: Nevada National Security Site Contract | Department of Energy (Accessed: 5 December 2024).
[ix] Welcome to the Mission Support and Test Services (MSTS) Transition Web Site (no date) | Jacobs Technology. Available at: Mission Support and Test Services (MSTS): Welcome (jacobstechnology.com) (Accessed: 5 December 2024).
[x] CONTRACT to MISSION SUPPORT AND TEST SERVICES LLC. | USAspending, 1 August 2017. Available at: CONTRACT to MISSION SUPPORT AND TEST SERVICES LLC | USAspending (Accessed: 5 December 2024).
[xi] Our parent companies (no date) | About SRNS. Available at: SRNS - Our Parent Companies (savannahrivernuclearsolutions.com) (Accessed: 5 December 2024).
[xii] ‘Fiscal Year 2025 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan-Biennial Plan Summary’, National Nuclear Security Administration (2024), pp. 3-4. Available at: FY2025 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan.pdf.
[xiii] CONTRACT to SAVANNAH RIVER NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS LLC. | USAspending, 10 January 2008. Available at: CONTRACT to SAVANNAH RIVER NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS LLC | USAspending (Accessed: 5 December 2024); U.S. Department of Energy Extends Fluor-led Savannah River Site Management and Operating Contract through September 2027. FLUOR News Release, 29 September 2022. Available at: https://newsroom.fluor.com/news-releases/news-details/2022/U.S.-Department-of-Energy-Extends-Fluor-led-Savannah-River-Site-Management-and-Operating-Contract-through-September-2027/default.aspx.
Investments
Last updated: 2025-02-27 19:12:36
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