BWX Technologies traces its lineage back to Babcock, Wilcox & Co. which was founded in 1867. They were involved in the design of the first nuclear submarine (USS Nautilus) and the first commercial nuclear power plant (Shippingport). Today they divide their business units between government operations (reactors, service, and research for nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers) and commercial operations which is largely focused in Canada providing support for the CANDU (Canadian Deuterium Uranium) program there. They also have a medical business unit supporting nuclear medicine.
Some of their current advanced development includes:
- A portable modular reactor called BANR (BWXT Advanced Nuclear Reactor) which is a high temperature gas reactor using TRISO fuel pellets.
- A nuclear propulsion system for spacecraft.
- Fission surface power for missions to the moon and Mars.