2.3: Nuclear Propulsion Plants

Provide safe, militarily effective nuclear propulsion plants to the U.S. Navy.

Other Information:

NNSA, through the Naval Reactors Program, provides the U.S. Navy with safe, militarily effective nuclear propulsion plants, beginning with reactor technology development, continuing through reactor operation, and ending with reactor plant disposal and management of naval spent nuclear fuel pending shipment to a geological repository. Nuclear power enhances warship capability and creates the flexibility needed to sprint anywhere in the world and arrive ready for combat operations. Sustained, high-speed capability enables rapid responses to changing world circumstances and helps the Navy stretch available assets to meet today’s worldwide national security commitments. The Naval Reactors Program ensures the safe operation of reactor plants in operating nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers and fulfills the Navy’s requirement for new reactors to meet evolving national defense demands. This program’s long-term development work ensures that nuclear propulsion technology provides options to maintain and upgrade current capabilities, as well as meet future threats to U.S. security. The presence of radiation dictates a careful, measured approach to developing and verifying nuclear technology, components, systems, and processes, and implementing them into existing or future plant designs. Intricate engineering challenges and long lead times to fabricate the massive, complex components require many years of effort before technological advances can be introduced into the fleet. As advances in various functional disciplines coalesce, work is integrated into the technology applicable to a naval nuclear propulsion plant.

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