A production win for NNSA and the broader nuclear security mission: The LANSCE Modernization Project at Los Alamos National Laboratory has cleared its next major approval milestone, moving into a design phase to modernize 50-year-old accelerator systems that sustain the U.S. nuclear stockpile.
National Nuclear Security Administration
September 9, 2026
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Advancing from Mission Need to a Defined Project in 18 Months
WASHINGTON – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) approved Critical Decision 1 (CD-1) for the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) Modernization Project (LAMP). This milestone represents a critical step in modernizing one of Los Alamos National Laboratory’s (LANL) most vital national security facilities.
The approval enables LAMP to advance into the design phase and develop detailed plans for replacing and modernizing multiple accelerator systems and components—collectively known as the LANSCE front end—that work together to create particle beams. The upgrade will replace 50-year-old systems while maintaining the facility’s unique scientific capabilities for national security research.
“CD-1 approval for LAMP is a critical investment in our nation’s national security,” said NNSA Administrator Brandon Williams. “LANSCE’s unique capabilities are essential to maintaining the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. Modernizing this aging infrastructure is vital to ensure we are moving with urgency and maintaining our technical edge to deter our adversaries.”
LANSCE provides a distinctive and integrated suite of capabilities found nowhere else in the nation—including dynamic proton radiography, materials science, neutron scattering, and experimental nuclear physics. These capabilities support essential weapons component qualification for stockpile operations, advanced manufacturing initiatives for both modern and aging components, nuclear data generation for simulation and modeling, and radiochemistry research relevant to nuclear weapons science and threat assessment.
“Reaching CD-1 just 18 months after CD-0 is a real accomplishment for a project of this size and complexity,” said Deputy Laboratory Director for Weapons Charlie Nakhleh. “Everyone involved should be exceptionally proud. CD-1 gives us a clear path forward, ensuring LANSCE will continue delivering the world-class accelerator capabilities our national security mission requires.”
LAMP will replace the accelerator’s front end with modern ion sources and components. The modernization project is designed to maintain experimental capabilities while increasing reliability and ensuring the facility’s longevity.