Pantex Plant
National Nuclear Security Administration (operated by PanTeXas Deterrence), Amarillo, Texas
The Pantex Plant northeast of Amarillo, Texas is the NNSA facility where U.S. nuclear weapons are assembled, disassembled, retrofitted and life-extended, and where high explosives are made. It has been the nation's primary weapons assembly center since 1975. More than 4,600 people work on the 18,000-acre site.
- Company
- National Nuclear Security Administration (operated by PanTeXas Deterrence)
- Status
- Operating
- Opened
- Not stated
- Employees
- 4,600
- federal
- Industry
- Aerospace and defense
- Revised
- November 12, 2026
What is made here
Assembles, disassembles, retrofits and life-extends U.S. nuclear weapons and manufactures high explosives.
Facts
| Mission | One of six NNSA production facilities, handling nuclear explosive assembly and disassembly, special nuclear material testing and evaluation, and high explosives manufacturing (federal: pantex.energy.gov) |
|---|---|
| Role since 1975 | The nation's primary assembly, disassembly, retrofit and life-extension center for nuclear weapons since 1975; the last new nuclear weapon was completed in 1991 and thousands of retired weapons have since been dismantled (federal: pantex.energy.gov) |
| Site | Operations are mainly on 2,000 of the site's 18,000 acres in Carson County, with about 650 buildings (federal: pantex.energy.gov) |
| Operator | Run by PanTeXas Deterrence, a joint venture led by a BWX Technologies subsidiary with Fluor, SOC and the Texas A&M University System (federal: pantex.energy.gov) |
Figures are as stated by the source named next to each one. Company figures are the company's own claims.
Can you visit?
We haven't found a public tour of this factory. See factory tours in Texas.
Sources
- Pantex: About (federal, checked November 12, 2026)
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