Abstract

AWE is charged with designing, manufacturing, assembling and caring (through-life) for the nuclear warheads that the UK deploys as part of the Continuous at Sea Deterrent (CASD). Since the late 1950s we have developed and maintained the knowledge and capabilities to meet that task. Core to this is the Science and Engineering expertise and unique capabilities that are needed to probe, measure and understand the behaviour of a nuclear warhead through its complex lifecycle to ensure that it is safe, reliable and available. Between 1952 and 1991 the UK could underpin its confidence in its warheads through direct testing. A testing moratorium and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) came into effect. The CTBT prohibits direct testing of nuclear explosives. The UKs nuclear scientists and engineers anticipated this geopolitical event and were ready with techniques and approaches that could finish the job of putting the Trident Mk4 nuclear warhead into service. In the intervening period these techniques and the required tools have evolved to meet the greater challenge of managing the stockpile through life and to prepare for a future warhead which has never been tested directly. The UK through DNO and AWE are continuing to invest in ensuring and innovating these scientific tools to meet the nuclear deterrence and security challenges now and into the future.

BIO : Robert joined AWE in 1995 in the Design Mathematics Department after earning a Physics degree from Imperial College London.​ His work has focused on CTBT -compliant science-based stockpile stewardship, particularly using multi-physics CFD algorithms to study extreme plasma and high-pressure hydrodynamic phenomena.​ Robert began his career shortly after the UK ceased nuclear testing in 1992, aligning his research with non- testing-based nuclear stewardship.​ He earned a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Imperial College in 2007 while working at AWE .​ Since 2011, Robert has held several senior scientific roles within AWE , contributing to leadership in science and technology.​ In 2023, he was appointed Chief Scientist at AWE , overseeing the organisation’s scientific strategy, technical governance, and standards.​

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