Wrap up: NNSA released 2025 SSMP; NNSA released 2025 NCPR; NNSS carbon-free electricity; DOE award for plasma research projects; HII subs under investigation by HASC

The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration Thursday released the fiscal year 2025 version of the stockpile stewardship and management plan (SSMP) to describe the agency’s plans to maintain the stockpile without testing nuclear weapons.

“The SSMP is an annual document provided to Congress, the American people, and the global public. It is a testament to the United States’ transparency into its nuclear deterrence programs, and outlines the status of major warhead modernization programs and highlights key budget information,” Jill Hruby, head of NNSA, said in the release.

The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration Friday released the fiscal year 2025-2029 version of “Prevent, Counter, and Respond—NNSA’s Plan to Reduce Global Nuclear Threats (NPCR).”

The document highlights how NNSA plans to advance its capabilities in preventing adversaries from acquiring nuclear weapons, and responding to nuclear or radiological incidents both domestically and abroad.

“Due to the rapidly shifting global environment and technology development, NNSA has accelerated key nonproliferation efforts with like-minded partners, updated export controls to capture the benefits of emerging and disruptive technologies while mitigating the risks, and prepared for the increase in nuclear power to meet clean energy goals,” Jill Hruby, head of NNSA, said in an agency press release. 

The Nevada National Security Site got more than a third of its electricity from carbon-free sources during fiscal 2023, according to a report released last week by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

The Nevada Site received 1% of its power from on-site carbon-free sources and 34% of its power came from carbon-free sources purchased from the electric grid, according to the 2023 environmental report announced Sept. 26 by DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

DOE is planning utility-scale carbon-free power on-site at Nevada as part of its Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative.

The Department of Energy gave $5.65 million to the National Nuclear Security Administration for 11 research projects in using plasmas to simulate nuclear explosions, a press release said.

The NNSA would collaborate with the DOE Office of Science to study plasmas created in a lab to create the conditions found in nuclear explosions in lieu of testing nuclear weapons, the DOE press release said in September.

“We are excited to be supporting cutting edge research that plays a critical role in developing the next generation of elite scientists in the area of high energy density science,” Jahleel Hudson, director of the technology and partnerships office for NNSA’s Defense Programs, said in the release. “This work advances our understanding of these extreme environments and has benefits that range from fundamental science to specific technological applications.”

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding recently told the Navy and Justice Department that it discovered some faulty welds on Navy submarines and aircraft carriers were made purposefully, if not maliciously.

On Sept. 27, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and its subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces leaders announced they are demanding information from the Navy and conducting their own investigation of how this happened.

Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), the House Seapower Subcommittee ranking member, separately said members of the committee and staff are in “close contact” with Navy leadership to determine the scope and severity of the welding issues and said it is “imperative that Navy leadership disclose its investigation in a timely manner in the coming weeks.” A version of this story first appeared in Exchange Monitor affiliate publication Defense Daily.