Pantex announces last production unit of B61-12 weapon complete

B61-12 modification is completed ahead of schedule

AMARILLO, Texas– The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and PanTeXas Deterrence LLC, (PXD) Manager and Operator (M&O) of the Pantex Plant, announce completion of the last production unit of the B61–12 modification.

The B61 nuclear weapon has been in service since 1968, with numerous performance modifications. For more than a decade, thousands of workers across the nation's Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) have focused on the B61's life extension program (LEP), updating or replacing weapons components, extending its service life by at least 2 decades.

“Completing the B61–12 is the result of extensive collaboration across the nuclear security enterprise and represents a major technical achievement,” said Teresa Robbins, Assistant Principal Deputy Administrator for Operations at the National Nuclear Security Administration. “For over 40 years, Pantex has been the nation's primary nuclear weapon assembly, disassembly, and life–extension center – the work you do here is critical to our nation's security and your performance reflects positively on the entire enterprise.”

“It's complicated to execute our mission, and that entire team has to operate to near perfection, in order to achieve this kind of milestone,” according to Kelly Beierschmitt, PXD President and General Manager.

The ending of the current version of the B61 weapon marks one of the biggest modifications ever attempted within the NSE.

“So, this is a very large program,” said Todd Welchlen, Senior Project Manager for NNSA NA–125.1. “We have Pantex, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos, Savannah River, and Kansas City. We've also integrated Boeing and we've got the Department of Defense represented as well.”

“I think it's really been a good collaboration between all the organizations, all the sites in the country, have contributed in some way to making sure we have this modification that helps deliver something that the military needs,” said Joseph Papp, PXD Senior Director of Production Engineering.

“I am very proud of the teamwork and want to personally thank the entire NNSA for making this happen. Teamwork was essential in completing this very important milestone. The challenges were communicated early, and this dedicated team worked to resolve them with urgency, “ said Jason Armstrong, Pantex Field Office Manager.

Realizing a final completion of a record for any weapons system's modification is a major milestone and it represents another successful chapter in the history of the B61–12.

“The significance of this accomplishment is great when you zoom out and think about the role the B61–12 plays in our overall nuclear deterrent, not only for our nation, but for our allies, as well as the globe,” said Colby Yeary, PXD Mission Assurance Officer. “The analogy of having a puzzle and all the puzzle pieces fitting together comes to mind...and without the B61–12, we would have an incomplete puzzle.”

That sentiment was echoed by Beierschmitt. “The world's not gotten safer, it's gotten more challenging with geopolitics, and every time we make a delivery, every time we do something on schedule, it signals to the entire world that this deterrent is strong.”

PanTeXas Deterrence, LLC (PXD) is the management and operating contractor for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Pantex Plant located in Carson County near Amarillo, Texas. Pantex maintains the safety, security, and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile. PXD is a joint venture led by a BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) subsidiary – it also includes Fluor; SOC, A Day & Zimmermann Company; and The Texas A&M University System.

For more information, visit www.pantex.energy.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram or LinkedIn.

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Steve Myers
Communications
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Stephen.Myers@pantex.doe.gov