BWX Technologies and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have formalised a partnership aimed at strengthening domestic uranium enrichment capability for defence purposes.
The organisations recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining cooperation on the Domestic Uranium Enrichment Centrifuge Experiment, commonly known as DUECE.
The initiative supports a broader effort by the Department of Energy to rebuild a reliable domestic supply of enriched uranium that can be used in national security missions.
Federal officials have identified this capability as a priority as the United States seeks to reduce dependence on foreign enrichment services for sensitive defence-related materials.
The agreement formalises the collaboration that has been developing around the DUECE project and establishes a framework for further research, engineering development, and the eventual deployment of the enrichment system.
Commenting on the partnership, Stephen Streiffer, ORNL laboratory director, said: “This MOU solidifies our shared commitment to the DOE’s vital defence priorities by combining ORNL’s innovative centrifuge designs with BWXT’s proven industrial expertise.
“Together, we’re restoring a capability the US hasn’t had since 2013 to enable a secure supply of enriched uranium for the nation’s defence.”
DUECE technology and its defence applications
The DUECE programme is designed to produce two categories of enriched uranium for US defence programmes: low-enriched uranium for tritium production and highly enriched uranium for naval nuclear propulsion systems.
Unlike enrichment projects tied to civilian nuclear power, DUECE technology is focused exclusively on defence applications.
Its development aligns with the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) strategy, which aims to rebuild critical nuclear fuel supply chains while advancing key technical milestones for future national security capabilities.
The project also follows a major federal investment. The NNSA previously awarded BWXT a contract valued at roughly $1.5bn to support licensing, manufacturing development, construction and operations related to the experimental enrichment system.
Roles of ORNL and BWXT
ORNL serves as the design authority behind the centrifuge technology used in the DUECE project. Researchers at the laboratory have led the system’s research and development since 2016, building on decades of expertise in uranium enrichment science.
Oak Ridge’s history in the field dates back to the early days of the US nuclear programme during the Manhattan Project, when the site played a central role in enrichment research and production.
BWXT brings industrial manufacturing and operational capabilities to the effort. The company has long supported US naval nuclear propulsion and other defence fuel initiatives and will handle aspects of production and facility development tied to the centrifuge system.
As part of the project, BWXT is developing a centrifuge manufacturing facility in Erwin, Tennessee, to support enrichment plant operations using DUECE technology.
Strategic importance for US nuclear supply chains
Officials involved in the collaboration say the project is intended to restore a domestic enrichment capability that has been absent in the United States for more than a decade.
By combining laboratory-scale innovation with industrial manufacturing capacity, the partners aim to move the technology toward large-scale deployment.
If successful, the initiative could become a key element in rebuilding a US-based uranium-enrichment supply chain dedicated to long-term defence requirements.