Nuclear Weapons: NNSA Should Clarify Long-Term Uranium Enrichment Mission Needs and Improve Technology Cost Estimates

Abstract

The National Nuclear Security Administration manages U.S.-origin enriched uranium for certain needs such as for the production of tritium, which is used in nuclear weapons. After losing its last source of U.S.-origin enriched uranium in 2013, NNSA projected that its supply would run out in 2027. We found that NNSA has extended its supply through 2038 but it has not clearly defined longer term enriched uranium needs. We also found that NNSA's preliminary cost estimates for building a new enrichment capability are not reliable. We recommended that NNSA clarify the scope of its mission need statement and create new cost estimates.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2018
Accession Number
AD1171577

Entities

People

  • Allison B. Bawden

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Agreements
  • Best Practices
  • Business Administration
  • Congress
  • Contractors
  • Cost Estimates
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of State
  • Fissile Materials
  • Fissionable Materials
  • Governments
  • Intellectual Property
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Nuclear Fuels
  • Nuclear Materials
  • Nuclear Power Plants
  • Nuclear Reactors
  • Project Management
  • United States
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security
  • Software Engineering