AWE Burghfield Warhead Facility (Project MENSA)
Burghfield, UK · 2011 (approved) - 2017 (intended completion) · £750 million (estimated cost for Project MENSA, part of a larger £1.8 billion investment in AWE sites)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchProject MENSA is a critical part of the Nuclear Weapons Capability Sustainment Programme (NWCSP), ensuring the UK's ability to maintain its nuclear deterrent. - The project has faced scrutiny regarding safety concerns and delays, highlighting the challenges of managing complex nuclear infrastructure projects. - Consolidating operations aims to improve efficiency and safety in warhead management.
Key engineering challenges
Designing and constructing a highly secure and safe facility for handling nuclear warheads. - Ensuring compliance with stringent nuclear safety regulations and environmental standards. - Managing the complex logistics of consolidating and modernizing nuclear warhead operations.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- UK Ministry of Defence / Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE)
- Lead contractor
- AWE
- Lead designers
- AWE
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- New facility for warhead assembly and disassembly; consolidates existing nuclear warhead operations.
- Disciplines
- Nuclear engineering; civil engineering; mechanical engineering; safety engineering; chemical engineering
- Standards & frameworks
- Nuclear Installations Act; Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) regulations; UK defence standards.
Sources: Wikipedia: AWE Nuclear Security Technologies (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AWE_Nuclear_Security_Technologies) - ONR: AWE Aldermaston and Burghfield (https://www.onr.org.uk/our-work/what-we-regulate/defence/defence-sites/awe-aldermaston) - FAS.org: Delays, Deferment, and Continuous At-Sea Deterrence (https://fas.org/publication/delays-deferment-and-continuous-at-sea-deterrence-the-united-kingdoms-increasing-nuclear-stockpile-and-the-infrastructure-that-makes-it-happen/) - The Guardian: UK nuclear warhead plant warned: 'Improve safety or shut down' (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/05/nucklea-warhead-plant-berkshire-uk-improve-safety-or-shut-down)