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Lockheed Martin Australia Authorized to Integrate Virginia-Class Nuclear Submarine Combat Systems, Marking a Key Step in AUKUS Technology Transfer

Lockheed Martin Australia has signed a multi-year A$29.3 million contract with the Australian Submarine Agency and has been officially designated as the combat systems integration partner for Australia's Virginia-class nuclear submarines. What makes this arrangement unique is that Australia will become the first national-level partner outside the United States authorized to integrate, maintain, and upgrade the classified combat systems of Virginia-class nuclear submarines. The relevant authorization covers approximately 40 classified subsystems, including critical capabilities such as sensors, target identification, weapon control, and underwater communications, marking a deepening of technology sharing under the AUKUS framework from platform procurement to the core combat systems level. The Virginia-class nucle...

2026-08-11

UK's Harlette Capital seeks partners to develop lunar micro nuclear reactor

UK-based innovative company Harlette Capital has recently issued a Request for Information (RFI), seeking support from industry and research institutions for the development of a micro nuclear reactor for lunar missions. The company stated that the project aims to provide continuous power for long-term scientific research, communications, infrastructure construction, and future crewed exploration on the lunar surface. Harlette Capital is previously better known for its luxury fashion brand Harlette. The company also operates a separate innovation business segment, which is positioning itself in space and energy assets and advancing a small modular reactor (SMR) project named Alpha Moon. According to the company, the RFI has been sent to...

2026-08-11

UK Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station Financing Finalized, Project Worth Over £26 Billion to Supply Power for 60 Years

The Sizewell C nuclear power station project in the UK has completed its final financing arrangements, marking the official entry into the definitive construction phase of this large-scale nuclear project with a total investment target of approximately £38 billion, equivalent to around RMB 261 billion. Located on the Suffolk coast of England, the project will feature two EPR Generation III pressurised water reactor units, with a total installed capacity of approximately 3.2 gigawatts and a design operational lifespan expected to reach 60 years. This project holds significant importance for the UK's energy system. In recent years, the UK has faced the dual pressures of accelerating the phase-out of ageing fossil fuel infrastructure on one hand, and managing the variability of renewable energy and growing electricity demand on the other. Once completed, Sizewell C will provide long...

2026-08-10

Chernobyl Black Fungi Draw Attention: Potential Value in Ionizing Radiation Tolerance and Shielding Research

Nearly four decades after the explosion of Unit 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, the areas surrounding the damaged reactor remain heavily contaminated with radiation. In this high-radiation environment, researchers have discovered that a type of black fungus is not only capable of surviving but may also exhibit strong environmental adaptability, drawing continued scientific interest in its radiation tolerance mechanisms. According to available data, this fungus, scientifically known as Cladosporium sphaerospermum, has been found on the interior walls of buildings associated with the contaminated reactor at Chernobyl. Researchers point out that its deep black appearance is linked to the large amounts of melanin accumulated within its cells. Compared with ordinary organisms, this type of fungus exhibits exceptional tolerance in high...

2026-08-10

Ukraine's Radon Association Receives EU-Assisted Equipment to Enhance Operational Reliability of IASRM Radiation Monitoring System

On August 4, 2026, the Ukrainian state non-profit company Radon Association received five modern support systems to enhance the uninterrupted operation capability of the Integrated Automated Radiation Monitoring System (IASRM). The project is financially supported by the European Union through the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine, pursuant to Agreement No. INSC/2023/442-610 signed on May 22, 2023. Under the contractual arrangements, the relevant equipment has been delivered to the regional branches of the Radon Association and the central production base branch, with installation completed at the designated facilities. The systems installed this time mainly include backup power supply equipment such as diesel generators, which can provide continuous power to IASRM equipment during main power interruptions or shutdowns, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the radiation monitoring system under abnormal power supply conditions.

2026-08-10

DNT "Radon Association" Receives EU Technical Assistance Equipment to Strengthen Radiation Dose Monitoring Capabilities

On August 4, 2026, under the framework of the EU International Technical Assistance Project, the DNT Radon Association received a batch of modern measurement equipment for radiation dose monitoring, aimed at enhancing radiation monitoring and dose control capabilities. The project is financially supported by the EU through the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine, pursuant to Donor Agreement No. 700001998 signed on June 24, 2024. In accordance with the contractual arrangements, the relevant measurement equipment has been delivered to the Association's interregional branches and central production base branches. Following delivery, the DNT Radon Association conducted acceptance testing of the supplied measurement equipment. The test results demonstrated that the equipment meets the requirements for its intended use. Concurrently, the Association also organized relevant personnel to undergo training in equipment operation and maintenance; upon completion of the training and knowledge assessment, the relevant experts were awarded certificates of completion.

2026-08-10

UK's MAST Upgrade sets plasma pressure record in fifth experimental campaign

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has completed the fifth experimental campaign of its flagship fusion experiment, MAST Upgrade. The campaign, conducted between 2025 and 2026 at the Culham Campus in Oxfordshire, UK, produced over 1,100 plasma pulses and achieved the device's highest-ever plasma pressure while overcoming plasma instability issues. In fusion devices, hydrogen isotopes must be heated, compressed, and confined under extremely high temperatures and pressures. The higher the plasma density and temperature, the stronger the fusion reaction, and high-pressure plasmas are also closer to the operating conditions required for future commercial fusion power plants. UKAEA stated that this...

2026-08-07

New Decommissioning Plan for Fukushima Daiichi: Priority on Internal Investigation of Unit 3 Before Fuel Debris Retrieval

The Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation of Japan released on August 6 an outline of the 2026 edition of the "Decommissioning Strategic Plan," proposing technical approaches for the decommissioning of Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The plan highlights that, for the large-scale retrieval of melted fuel debris at Unit 3, expected to commence in or after fiscal year 2037, priority should currently be given to internal investigations of the reactor building to provide a more reliable basis for subsequent engineering plans. The plan states that the fuel debris retrieval method being studied by TEPCO still requires further improvement in certainty, with the key prerequisite being an understanding of the actual internal conditions of the reactor. Due to the high radiation levels of the water inside the unit following the accident...

2026-08-07

UK Energy - Nuclear joins World Association of Nuclear Operators

Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) has joined the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) as a new member of its fifth membership category. This membership category is open to organizations worldwide that are planning, constructing, or preparing to operate new nuclear facilities. By joining WANO, GBE-N will gain access to the association's global professional network, operational experience feedback, and tailored support for new nuclear projects. WANO can provide assistance in the construction, commissioning, operational readiness, startup, and long-term safe and reliable operation of new nuclear plants. GBE-N, a UK government-owned entity, is advancing plans to deploy Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors in Gwynedd, North Wales (formerly known as Wylfa).

2026-08-06

Czech industrial valve manufacturer MSA expands into the full nuclear energy supply chain

Czech industrial valve manufacturer MSA is actively expanding its business, aiming not only to participate in the construction of the Dukovany nuclear power plant but also to enter the supply chains related to small modular reactors (SMRs) and nuclear submarine projects. The company is one of the representatives of Czech industrial valve manufacturers, with years of industry experience and technical expertise. MSA specializes in the manufacture of industrial valves designed for the control of media such as liquids and gases. Its products have a long history and have undergone significant technological advancements. Modern industrial valves have become a highly specialized field, relying on contemporary research, innovative materials, and stringent technical and legal requirements. In particular, valves used in nuclear power plants must meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and operational reliability...

2026-08-06

Czech nuclear safety officials say domestic nuclear power plants have sufficient cooling water for both existing and new units

Droughts across parts of Europe are affecting the operation of some nuclear power plants. Due to low water levels and flow rates in the Danube River, two reactors at Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant have been shut down, and Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant also faces the risk of a complete shutdown. Štěpán Kochánek, Chairman of the Czech State Office for Nuclear Safety (SÚJB), stated that plant operators should not be allowed to continue operating units at full power when cooling water is insufficient, and that related shutdown measures are conservative actions predefined in operating procedures. Kochánek explained that reactor shutdowns are not an unusually rare operation. Unit shutdown typically involves gradually reducing reactor power, inserting control rods, and bringing fission reactions to a minimal level or complete cessation. After shutdown, the reactor still requires cooling, but the demand for cooling water volume and capacity is significantly lower than during full-power operation. He noted that this process shares similarities with planned outages such as refueling overhauls and is a standardized procedure that operators should master.

2026-08-05

UK Office for Nuclear Regulation contributes to IAEA regulatory cooperation toolkit for advanced reactors

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently published the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI) Regulatory Cooperation Toolkit. The UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) played a significant role in the development of this toolkit, which is designed to support cooperation among national nuclear regulators in the review of advanced reactor technologies. The toolkit is one of the key outputs of Phase 2 of the NHSI (2025–2026), developed jointly by multiple regulators participating in the NHSI Regulatory Track and the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Regulators' Forum. The toolkit provides practical guidance, templates, and methodologies to help regulators conduct collaborative reviews, leverage existing regulatory assessment outcomes, and address...

2026-08-05

GAO Report Urges DOE-EM to Learn from Canada, UK, France, and Belgium in Reshaping Nuclear Waste Cleanup Strategy

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) noted in a new report that countries such as Canada, France, and the United Kingdom have taken proactive measures in recent years to accelerate nuclear waste cleanup. The report recommends that the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) engage in strategic exchanges with these countries to identify and evaluate alternative approaches that could reduce risks, lower costs, or expedite cleanup activities. Currently, DOE-EM estimates its cleanup mission could cost between $641 billion and $840 billion and may not be completed until 2100. The report found that while DOE-EM has some level of exchange with other countries on nuclear cleanup, such exchanges are not strategic and lack proactive learning...

2026-08-04

U.S. Navy Virginia-class nuclear submarine USS Vermont departs Yokosuka on August 1

The U.S. Virginia-class nuclear submarine USS Vermont departed Yokosuka Port on August 1. The city of Yokosuka disclosed the information on August 3. It is reported that USS Vermont entered Yokosuka Port on July 24 and departed at 1:49 p.m. on August 1. This port call was for crew rest, resupply, and maintenance. USS Vermont is one of the Virginia-class nuclear submarines, with hull number SSN-792. This was the second time USS Vermont entered Yokosuka Port. The first visit was on December 9, 2024. The previous port call also focused on rest, resupply, and maintenance. Since the beginning of this year, seven U.S. nuclear-powered vessels have visited Yokosuka Port...

2026-08-04

OECD Nuclear Energy Agency Director-General Attends Civil Nuclear Energy Workshop in London

William D. Magwood IV, Director-General of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), attended the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Civil Nuclear Energy Workshop held in London, United Kingdom, on July 15-16. Themed "Collaborative Advancement of Implementation," the workshop brought together government officials, industry representatives, and international stakeholders from Europe, Eurasia, and beyond to discuss how international cooperation can support the delivery of nuclear energy projects. Magwood delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony and subsequently engaged in a conversation with Maria Korsnick, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)...

2026-08-04