BWX Technologies
American nuclear technology company supplying nuclear components, fuel, reactors, and technical services to government and commercial customers.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
BWX Technologies, commonly known as BWXT, is a United States nuclear technology company headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia. The company supplies nuclear components, nuclear fuel, reactor systems, engineering, manufacturing, inspection, repair, and technical-management services. Its activities span government nuclear programs, naval nuclear propulsion, commercial nuclear power, national-security work, and selected medical-isotope applications. BWXT became an independently traded company on July 1, 2015, when it was separated from Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises. The transaction created a standalone public company focused on nuclear components, fuel, and services, while its former parent retained other parts of the Babcock & Wilcox business. The company's roots nevertheless extend much further back through the Babcock & Wilcox nuclear businesses. Those operations participated in the manufacture of commercial nuclear equipment and in the supply of components for United States government nuclear programs. A central part of BWXT's business is the design and manufacture of nuclear components for the U.S. government. Its Nuclear Operations Group produces large and technically demanding components at facilities in Ohio, Indiana, and Virginia, while Nuclear Fuel Services, a BWXT subsidiary in Erwin, Tennessee, supports specialized nuclear-fuel activities. These operations serve programs for the U.S. government, including naval nuclear propulsion and other government nuclear applications. BWXT also operates in commercial nuclear energy. Its nuclear-energy business manufactures components and provides engineering, design, construction, inspection, and repair services. The company has described itself as the only North American manufacturer to have continuously produced nuclear steam generators for the commercial nuclear-power industry since the 1950s. This heritage connects BWXT to the equipment supply chain for pressurized-water reactors and other nuclear facilities. The company has also pursued advanced-reactor concepts. Through the mPower program, first announced in 2009 and organized through BWXT mPower in 2012, it worked with Bechtel and utilities on a small modular reactor design. The proposed integral pressurized-water reactor was intended to produce 180 megawatts electric per module, use a passively safe configuration, place major reactor systems within a single vessel, and operate with a multi-year fuel cycle. The Generation mPower project was discontinued in 2017, and the reactor was no longer under development after that point. Beyond hardware manufacturing, BWXT Technical Services Group manages and supports complex nuclear, national-security, laboratory, and government operations. Its activities have included management and operations work, site-closure and manufacturing contracts, laboratory services, and technical services for the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration. BWXT has also participated in organizations associated with the operation of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory. BWXT's positioning is therefore that of a specialized, engineering-intensive nuclear supplier rather than a consumer-facing energy brand. Its business depends on long qualification cycles, regulated manufacturing, government contracting, nuclear-quality systems, and expertise accumulated across naval, commercial, and national-security programs. The company supplies products and services internationally, but its most prominent disclosed customer base and strategic role are tied to U.S. government nuclear programs and the North American commercial nuclear sector.
History
BWX Technologies developed from the nuclear businesses associated with Babcock & Wilcox, an industrial company with a long history in boilers, nuclear equipment, and government nuclear work. The company’s modern corporate identity reflects a series of reorganizations that followed changes in the ownership and structure of the Babcock & Wilcox businesses. After Babcock & Wilcox emerged from bankruptcy in 2006, its businesses and BWX Technologies were subsidiaries of McDermott International. Operations were subsequently consolidated under The Babcock & Wilcox Companies, with John Fees serving as president. The consolidation brought together commercial nuclear-energy activities, government nuclear operations, and related engineering and manufacturing capabilities. Before later corporate changes, Lynchburg, Virginia, was an important center for the business, although headquarters-related operations were also associated with Charlotte, North Carolina. The business expanded its advanced-reactor work in the late 2000s. In 2009, Babcock & Wilcox announced plans for the mPower small modular reactor. The concept was an integral pressurized-water reactor intended to produce 180 megawatts electric per module. Its design placed the reactor core and steam generators within a single vessel and envisioned underground containment and passive-safety features. In 2012, BWXT mPower was formed to develop, license, and deploy the design. Babcock & Wilcox and Bechtel worked through Generation mPower, while utilities participated in an advisory council that reviewed the design and licensing approach. The Tennessee Valley Authority signed a 2013 letter of intent relating to possible deployment. The project was ultimately terminated in 2017. The company’s commercial nuclear business was organized in 2010 through the combination of nuclear power-generation and modular-nuclear activities. That business manufactured nuclear components and supplied engineering, construction, inspection, repair, and design services. Following the 2015 separation from Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, the business became BWXT Nuclear Energy. It retained capabilities in commercial nuclear equipment and continued a manufacturing tradition that included nuclear steam generators and other large reactor components. On July 1, 2015, BWX Technologies began trading independently after being spun off from Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises. Sandy Baker became chief executive officer and John Fees became chairman. At the time of the separation, the company was described as having approximately 2,500 employees in Lynchburg and approximately 4,500 employees overall. The new public company concentrated on nuclear components, nuclear fuel, government programs, and technical services. BWXT Nuclear Operations Group became the principal government-component organization. Its activities include design and production of large components for U.S. government programs. Manufacturing locations in Barberton, Ohio, and Mount Vernon, Indiana, focus on large heavy components, while facilities in Lynchburg, Virginia, and Euclid, Ohio, support the design and supply of components for government nuclear programs. Nuclear Fuel Services, located in Erwin, Tennessee, operates as a subsidiary within this group. BWXT Technical Services Group broadened the company’s role beyond physical nuclear equipment. It manages complex nuclear and national-security operations, supports government manufacturing and site-closure contracts, and provides laboratory and technical services. The group has been associated with Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration work, including participation in limited-liability companies connected with management and operation of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory. It has also been described as managing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Taken together, these activities made BWXT a vertically capable nuclear supplier combining specialized manufacturing, fuel expertise, reactor engineering, government contracting, and technical operations. Its business is concentrated in highly regulated and technically demanding markets, particularly U.S. naval nuclear propulsion, national-security programs, and commercial nuclear power. The company also supplies nuclear components and fuel internationally, although its most significant disclosed institutional relationships are in the United States.
- 2017
Generation mPower project ended
[1]The BWXT mPower small modular reactor project conducted with Bechtel was terminated, ending active development of that design.
- 2015
BWX Technologies became independently traded
[1]BWX Technologies began trading separately from Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises on July 1 following a corporate spin-off.
- 2013
Tennessee Valley Authority signed an mPower letter of intent
[1]The Tennessee Valley Authority signed a letter of intent concerning potential plants using the BWXT mPower reactor design.
- 2012
BWXT mPower was formed
[1]BWXT mPower was established to develop, license, and deploy the mPower small modular reactor design.
- 2010
Nuclear-energy business consolidated
[1]Two nuclear business units were combined to form Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Energy, which later became BWXT Nuclear Energy after the 2015 corporate separation.
- 2009
mPower reactor plans announced
[1]Babcock & Wilcox announced plans to design, license, and deploy the mPower small modular reactor, later associated with BWXT mPower.
- 2006
Babcock & Wilcox emerged from bankruptcy
[1]Following the emergence of Babcock & Wilcox from bankruptcy, Babcock & Wilcox and BWX Technologies operated as subsidiaries of McDermott International before later consolidation under The Babcock & Wilcox Companies.
Products and positioning
A specialized North American nuclear technology and services supplier focused on defense, naval propulsion, commercial nuclear power, national security, and other regulated nuclear applications.
Defense nuclear systems
Naval nuclear reactor components
BWXT Nuclear Operations Group designs and manufactures specialized components for U.S. government nuclear programs. The company's broader government-nuclear role includes supplying equipment associated with naval nuclear propulsion, including reactor components for nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers. These products are manufactured under demanding nuclear-quality, security, and government-contracting requirements.
Commercial nuclear equipment
Commercial nuclear components
BWXT Nuclear Energy manufactures nuclear components for commercial power plants and provides related engineering, design, construction, inspection, and repair services. Its capabilities include the production of nuclear steam generators and other large reactor equipment. BWXT describes its North American steam-generator manufacturing continuity as extending back to the 1950s.
Nuclear fuel
Nuclear fuel
BWXT supplies nuclear-fuel products and services through its nuclear operations, including the Nuclear Fuel Services subsidiary in Erwin, Tennessee. The fuel business supports specialized government and nuclear applications and forms part of BWXT's broader portfolio of regulated nuclear-material and component capabilities.
Small modular reactor · 2009
BWXT mPower reactor
The BWXT mPower was a proposed integral pressurized-water small modular reactor rated at 180 megawatts electric per module. The concept placed the reactor core and steam generators in one vessel and incorporated passive-safety and underground-containment features. The design was intended to operate for a four-year cycle without refueling, but development was discontinued in 2017.
Technical and government services
Nuclear technical services
BWXT Technical Services Group manages and supports complex nuclear, national-security, laboratory, and government operations. Its work includes manufacturing and site-closure contracts, laboratory services, technical services, and management-and-operations activities for government customers, including the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Medical nuclear products
Medical isotopes
Medical isotopes are identified among BWXT's offerings. The company’s nuclear-materials and production capabilities support applications outside power generation and defense, although the supplied reference material does not specify individual isotope products, launch dates, or current product names.
Brand decisions
2017
mPower reactor development discontinuedGeneration changeBackground
The BWXT mPower small modular reactor had been developed through an alliance between BWXT and Bechtel under Generation mPower.
Action taken
The Generation mPower project was terminated, ending further development of the reactor design.
Aftermath
BWXT continued to emphasize established nuclear manufacturing, fuel, government-component, and technical-services businesses rather than the discontinued mPower program.
2015
Spin-off created an independently traded nuclear companyStrategyBackground
The Babcock & Wilcox businesses were reorganized into separately traded companies.
Action taken
BWX Technologies separated from Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises and began trading independently on July 1, 2015.
Aftermath
BWXT operated as a standalone public company focused on nuclear components, fuel, government programs, and technical services.
2009
Development of the mPower small modular reactor announcedProduct launchBackground
Babcock & Wilcox sought to develop a scalable small modular reactor for possible commercial deployment.
Action taken
The company announced plans for an integral pressurized-water reactor with an output of 180 megawatts electric per module and passive-safety features.
Aftermath
BWXT mPower was formed in 2012, the project attracted utility and engineering-partner participation, and the Generation mPower effort was ultimately terminated in 2017.
Recent events
BWXT and Antares enter TRISO fuel production agreement[3]
Reported:
BWX Technologies announced that its BWXT Advanced Fuels subsidiary entered a multi-year commercial agreement with Antares Nuclear to establish a framework for producing TRISO nuclear fuel. The agreement includes an initial allocation of 1 MTU, with the possibility of increasing it as deployment requirements evolve.
BWX Technologies announces production-line relaunch plan[4]
Reported:
BWX Technologies announced plans to relaunch a production line sometime in the next 12 months and hire 60 additional people at its Lynchburg-area facilities within the next 24 months. The company said new equipment must be purchased and installed before hiring and production can begin.
Sources4 sources
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