AMARILLO, TX – The Pantex Plant has achieved a significant milestone in national nuclear security deterrence by completing the first production unit (FPU) of the W76 Mk4B. This accomplishment comes just over five years after the program began, highlighting the dedication to the United States’ nuclear deterrent by sites from across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
Pantex completed the FPU three months ahead of schedule. The W76 Mk4B builds upon the W76, which is a
series comprising the largest percentage of strategic weapons in the U.S. nuclear inventory and is a key component of the Trident II (D5) missile system. This milestone is of immense importance, primarily because it represents a critical step in maintaining and enhancing the United States' nuclear deterrence capabilities
The effort was a collaborative achievement involving Pantex, Kansas City National Security Campus, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, the United States Navy, and Lockheed Martin. Each entity played an integral role, navigating challenges that included component producibility, testing-hardware availability, and facility capacity. Effective communication and collaboration among the sites were crucial to overcoming these challenges and achieving the FPU.
“Reaching this milestone required a great deal of effort not only from Pantex employees, but thousands of workers at NSE sites across the country, including NNSA and Department of War personnel,” said Kelly Beierschmitt, president and general manager of PanTeXas Deterrence, LLC, the management and operating contractor for the Pantex Plant. “The success of this program has required the highest standards of safety, security, and quality from everyone involved. I personally want to commend these workers for their contributions to the effectiveness and completion of this milestone while ensuring our nation’s nuclear deterrence.”
“Achieving the W76 Mk4B FPU ahead of schedule demonstrates the NSE’s ability to accelerate mission delivery to meet the nation’s needs,” said Pantex Field Office Manager Jason Armstrong. “The collaboration among NSE labs, plants, and sites that led to this milestone is truly commendable and is what enables us to deliver to the Navy what’s required to meet our national security objectives.”
"As Pantex began working with the other sites on the program, we identified the opportunity to complete the FPU early, which benefits the nation by delivering the NNSA’s national security mission ahead of schedule," said Pantex W76 program manager Norbert Chmura. “Recently, Pantex successfully completed a number of production responsibilities early, which meant our facilities were available for an earlier start time on the W76 Mk4B. While that sounds easy, pulling a program forward requires additional effort from all of the NSE sites working on the program. The accelerated timeline is indicative of the great teamwork by all involved.”
With the W76 Mk4B FPU now complete, Pantex and it’s NSE partners continue to work together to navigate future challenges and strengthen the nation’s defense.
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 on Pantex, visit www.pantex.energy.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
CONTACT
Steve Myers
Communications
(C) 806.236.2826
stephen.myers@pantex.doe.gov