Atomic Weapons Establishment: Difference between revisions
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The '''Atomic Weapons Establishment''' is responsible for the design, manufacture and support of [[Nuclear weapon|warheads]] for the [[Nuclear weapons and the United Kingdom|United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent]]. '''AWE plc''' is responsible for the day-to-day operations of AWE. AWE plc is owned by [[British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.|BNFL]], [[Lockheed Martin U.K.|Lockheed Martin UK]] and [[Serco]] through '''AWE Management Ltd'''. The company is based close to [[Aldermaston]] (although the nearest town is [[Tadley]] in [[Hampshire]]), with major facilities at [[Burghfield]]. |
The '''Atomic Weapons Establishment''' is responsible for the design, manufacture and support of [[Nuclear weapon|warheads]] for the [[Nuclear weapons and the United Kingdom|United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent]]. '''AWE plc''' is responsible for the day-to-day operations of AWE. AWE plc is owned by [[British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.|BNFL]], [[Lockheed Martin U.K.|Lockheed Martin UK]] and [[Serco]] through '''AWE Management Ltd'''. The company is based close to [[Aldermaston]] (although the nearest town is [[Tadley]] in [[Hampshire]]), with major facilities at [[Burghfield]]. |
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During [[World War II]] the AWRE was known as '''RAF Aldermaston''' and was used by the [[Royal Air Force]] and the [[United States Army]] [[Ninth Air Force]] as a troop carrier (C-47) group base and was assigned USAAF station No 467. |
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== History== |
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===Origns=== |
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In [[1941]] the higher part of the [[Aldermaston Court]] estate was chosen by the government as a site for development as a Bomber Operations Training Unit (OTU). The woodland was cleared and a standard 'A Class' airfield with three concrete runways was built. The workshops and administration buildings were on the south side, near the main entrance at Falcon Gate.There were five hangars. Four were built to take the largest [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] aircraft. |
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=== Wartime RAF Use === |
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The fifth hangar, just off the airfield, was for the [[Ministry of Production]] where [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfire]] fighter planes were assembled by [[Supermarine|Vickers Supermarine]]. The Spitfires were flight tested from the airfield. On the east side of the airfield there was a large bomb dump which covered nearly half the site. |
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The airfield was opened by No 92 Group of the RAF on [[1 July]] [[1942]], but was never used by the intended [[Vickers Wellington|Wellington]] bombers because, by then, it had been earmarked for the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF). |
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=== Wartime USAAF Use === |
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==== 60th Troop Carrier Group==== |
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On [[7 August]] [[1942]] HQ 60th Troop Carrier Group and 10th and 28th Troop Carrier Squadrons moved from [[RAF Chelveston]] and [[RAF Podington]] with C-47s. |
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On [[15 August]] [[1942]] 11th Troop Carrier Squadron, 60th Troop Carrier Group, moved from Chelveston with C-47s. |
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On [[14 September]] [[1942]] HQ 60th Troop Carrier Group and 10th, 11th, 12th and 28th Troop Carrier Squadrons moved to Aldermaston with C-47s. |
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The Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE) was established on 1 April 1950 at Aldermaston (formerly [[RAF Aldermaston]]). AWRE was initially part of the [[Ministry of Supply]]. In [[1954]] it was transferred to the newly created [[United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority]] (UKAEA). In [[1971]], the production activities of UKAEA were transferred to the newly-created [[British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.]] (BNFL). |
The Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE) was established on 1 April 1950 at Aldermaston (formerly [[RAF Aldermaston]]). AWRE was initially part of the [[Ministry of Supply]]. In [[1954]] it was transferred to the newly created [[United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority]] (UKAEA). In [[1971]], the production activities of UKAEA were transferred to the newly-created [[British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.]] (BNFL). |
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Revision as of 21:04, 26 April 2007
The Atomic Weapons Establishment is responsible for the design, manufacture and support of warheads for the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent. AWE plc is responsible for the day-to-day operations of AWE. AWE plc is owned by BNFL, Lockheed Martin UK and Serco through AWE Management Ltd. The company is based close to Aldermaston (although the nearest town is Tadley in Hampshire), with major facilities at Burghfield.
During World War II the AWRE was known as RAF Aldermaston and was used by the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Ninth Air Force as a troop carrier (C-47) group base and was assigned USAAF station No 467.
History
Origns
In 1941 the higher part of the Aldermaston Court estate was chosen by the government as a site for development as a Bomber Operations Training Unit (OTU). The woodland was cleared and a standard 'A Class' airfield with three concrete runways was built. The workshops and administration buildings were on the south side, near the main entrance at Falcon Gate.There were five hangars. Four were built to take the largest RAF aircraft.
Wartime RAF Use
The fifth hangar, just off the airfield, was for the Ministry of Production where Spitfire fighter planes were assembled by Vickers Supermarine. The Spitfires were flight tested from the airfield. On the east side of the airfield there was a large bomb dump which covered nearly half the site.
The airfield was opened by No 92 Group of the RAF on 1 July 1942, but was never used by the intended Wellington bombers because, by then, it had been earmarked for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).
Wartime USAAF Use
60th Troop Carrier Group
On 7 August 1942 HQ 60th Troop Carrier Group and 10th and 28th Troop Carrier Squadrons moved from RAF Chelveston and RAF Podington with C-47s.
On 15 August 1942 11th Troop Carrier Squadron, 60th Troop Carrier Group, moved from Chelveston with C-47s.
On 14 September 1942 HQ 60th Troop Carrier Group and 10th, 11th, 12th and 28th Troop Carrier Squadrons moved to Aldermaston with C-47s.
AWRE History
The Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE) was established on 1 April 1950 at Aldermaston (formerly RAF Aldermaston). AWRE was initially part of the Ministry of Supply. In 1954 it was transferred to the newly created United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). In 1971, the production activities of UKAEA were transferred to the newly-created British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. (BNFL).
In 1973 AWRE was transferred to the Procurement Executive of the UK Ministry of Defence. In 1987, AWRE was combined with the two Royal Ordnance Factories at ROF Burghfield and ROF Cardiff to form the AWE. In 1989, the UK government announced its intention to find a suitable private company to run AWE under a Government Owned/Contractor Operated arrangement.
Private Management
In 1993 the government awarded a contract to Hunting-BRAE, a consortium of Hunting Engineering, Brown Root and AEA. During Hunting BRAE's management AWE decommissioned the RAFs WE177 freefall nuclear bomb. In 1998 the company suffered two prosecutions for safety breaches, one for discharge of tritium into a nearby stream [1] and another for an incident where two workers inhaled plutonium.
In 1999 the company lost the contract to AWE Management Ltd, (AWE ML) a consortium of BNFL, Lockheed Martin and Serco which assumed responsibility on April 1 2000. This does not represent privatisation, the Ministry of Defence still owns all the AWE sites and a Golden Share in AWE plc. Critics have pointed out that BNFL and Lockheed Martin do not have perfect safety records either. BNFL has suffered embarrassing revelations of falsified quality checks in nuclear fuels and Lockheed has been the subject of scathing reports on the operation of U.S. nuclear facilities. Lockheed's failings include safety concerns at the Y-12 facility at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, an American weapons plant similar in certain ways to Aldermaston.
Other Atomic Weapons Establishment sites could be found at ROF Burghfield, Burghfield and ROF Cardiff, Llanishen, Cardiff, the former Royal Ordnance Factories, although ROF Cardiff is now closed.
A significant programme of investment is taking place over the three year period from 2005 to 2008, of about £350 million per year, to provide assurance that the existing Trident missile warhead is reliable and safe throughout its intended in-service life. The new facilities and extra supporting infrastructure are required in the absence of live nuclear testing no longer allowed under the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. [2]
AWE cooperates with the U.S. Los Alamos National Laboratory in carrying out subcritical nuclear tests at the Nevada underground test site to obtain scientific data to maintain the safety and reliability of nuclear weapons. Subcritical tests are not banned by the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty on nuclear weapons. The most recent test took place in February 2006. [3]
The cost of decommissioning AWE facilities when they become redundant, including nuclear waste disposal, is estimated at £3.4 billion in 2005. [4]
The plant is the final destination for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament's annual march from Trafalgar Square, London. The first Aldermaston March was conceived by the Direct Action Committee and took place in 1958. There is currently a monthly women's peace camp held outside the Establishment to protest against its existence.
See also
- Atomic Energy Research Establishment
- Nuclear weapons and the United Kingdom
- 1958 US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement
- The Leaky Establishment
External links
- Official AWE site
- Plutonium and Aldermaston - An Historical Account, UK Ministry of Defence, 4 September 2001
- AWE Management Ltd. partners
- Aldermaston Women's Peace Camp
- Revealed: UK develops secret nuclear warhead, The Sunday Times, March 12, 2006