Manufacturing for national security

From coast to coast, specialized parts, technology, and strategic materials help make the world safer.

December 9, 2024

Placeholder Image — The nuclear security enterprise. From left: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Nevada National Security Sites, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Pantex Plant, Kansas City National Security Campus, Y-12 National Security Complex, Holston Army Ammunition Plant, Tennessee Valley Authority, Savannah River Site, National Nuclear Security Administration. Credit to: Los Alamos National Laboratory

The National Nuclear Security Administration’s labs, plants, and sites work together and with industry partners to produce America’s nuclear weapons and other technology with national security applications. Here’s a high-level look at where some items are manufactured. ★

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Kansas City National Security Campus

Nonnuclear weapons components, including:
- fiber optics
- firing systems
- gas transfer systems
- polymers
- radar systems

Pantex Plant

High explosives

Sandia National Laboratories

Electronics
Neutron generators

Savannah River Site

Plutonium pits (future)

Y-12 National Security Complex

Uranium components

Enterprise assistance:

Holston Army Ammunition Plant

High explosives

Tennessee Valley Authority

Tritium

*For a deeper dive into the nuclear security enterprise—the National Nuclear Security Administration’s network of labs, plants, and sites—see the spring 2023 issue of this magazine.