General Atomics Energy Group Secures Contract for Advanced Research in National Security
Renewed Agreement with National Nuclear Security Administration Provides Cutting-Edge Components for US Nuclear Stockpile Stewardship Program
For almost 35 years, General Atomics (GA) scientists in San Diego have collaborated with the US government to enhance homeland defense and advance fusion technology. This month, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi-autonomous agency under the Department of Energy (DOE), renewed GA’s contract to produce and deliver research components vital to maintaining the US nuclear stockpile. The contract supports the NNSA’s Stockpile Stewardship Program, which advances Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) research at national laboratories nationwide.
“We are proud to be a part of this decades-long collaborative effort with NNSA and several national laboratories,” said Paul Fitzsimmons, technical director for Inertial Fusion Technology at the General Atomics Energy Group. “The contract lets GA use our unique capabilities to support a program vital to our country’s national security.”
As part of the contract, GA fabricates state-of-the-art ignition targets—small, peppercorn-sized spheres made from various materials, including diamond and gold, among others. Researchers then fire lasers at these targets, rapidly compressing them to trigger a controlled release of energy lasting just billionths of a second. The data gained from these experiments allows researchers to study the behavior of matter under extreme conditions and is essential for ensuring the US maintains a safe, secure, and reliable nuclear deterrent without underground testing.
In 2022, the tiny targets were crucial in achieving a significant milestone at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). LLNL scientists and more than 45 GA employees based at the facility to support the mission achieved fusion ignition for the first time—marking one of the most meaningful scientific breakthroughs of the 21st century. Since then, the team has successfully repeated this accomplishment four more times.
GA’s renewed contract starts with an initial five-year term, with the option to extend it for an additional five years, potentially allowing this agreement to last a decade. This expanded commitment and increased funding reflect a significant shift from the previous five-year-only agreements.
“This is a long-term commitment unlike any we’ve had before,” Fitzsimmons said. “It truly reflects the NNSA’s confidence in General Atomics as a strategic partner while facilitating enduring investments that will support and shape the future of this dynamic program.”