UK eyes restart of domestic sub reactor fuel cycle

The UK is to explore re-establishing a domestic nuclear fuel cycle for defence reactor fuel, backed by £1.7bn of investment through a new Nuclear Fuels Programme, the UK Defence Journal understands.

The programme is confirmed in the Defence Investment Plan, which commits to “establishing a Nuclear Fuels Programme to explore options for re-establishing a nuclear fuel cycle for defence reactor fuel.” The Ministry of Defence describes it as one element of a transformation of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise taking place at what it calls an unprecedented rate and scale.

The plan states that “for the first time, we are building new attack submarines, new ballistic missile submarines, new warheads, and new infrastructure, as well as establishing a new nuclear fuels programme, all at the same time. This work is a National Endeavour, with central and local government, industry, and academia working together to deliver these vital programmes.”

Fuel for the reactors that power the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet depends on highly enriched uranium, and the commitment to exploring a re-established fuel cycle addresses long-term security of supply as the submarine force expands. Nuclear reactor core manufacturing capabilities at Raynesway in Derby are being expanded to produce cores for the next-generation attack submarines being built for the UK and Australian navies under AUKUS, with up to 12 SSN-AUKUS boats planned for the Royal Navy and steel to be cut on the first next year.

Basing infrastructure is being reshaped in parallel as the plan confirms the acquisition of three floating docks and infrastructure at Faslane, “enabling resilient out-of-water engineering for all submarine classes.” HM Naval Base Clyde is the subject of what the document describes as a multi-decade, multi-billion pound programme to improve working conditions and ensure readiness for the Dreadnought and SSN-AUKUS fleets, while the Devonport Infrastructure Programme upgrades docks for maintenance and invests in submarine recycling.

Spending on the Defence Nuclear Enterprise totals £63.6bn over the next four years, excluding workforce costs, with £47bn for submarines including maintenance and infrastructure, £13bn for the warhead programme and £290m for nuclear skills. The plan states the enterprise will grow to between about 20 and 25 per cent of the Ministry’s overall budget.

The warhead effort maintains the current Mk4A while designing its replacement, Astraea, with strategic investment at AWE Aldermaston, Burghfield and RNAD Coulport, including completing the MENSA warhead assembly and disassembly facility and constructing a Future Materials Campus.

The Ministry describes the enterprise as “a major engine of economic growth”, supported by a supply chain of over 6,000 UK-based companies and a workforce expected to reach 65,000 by 2030. A new Submarine Delivery Group will be created this year, combining the Submarine Delivery Agency with the Defence Nuclear Organisation’s submarine capability teams.