UK Defence Secretary is quoted by UK Defence Journal as saying that "The UK is exploring options to re-establish a nuclear-fuel cycle for reactor fuel for defence purposes" as part of the modernization of the UK Defence Nuclear Enterprise. The Secretary clarified that the project would respect the voluntary moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons that is currently in place.

The United Kingdom currently has no facilities that can produce HEU for naval reactors. The material for this purposes has been provided by the United States.