About us
Our mission is to keep safe and capable submarines at sea, maintain our nuclear warheads and deliver the nuclear deterrent to protect national and global security.
The Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) oversees all defence nuclear business, excluding operations.
Responsibilities
We are responsible for:
- providing nuclear deterrence (one of the MOD’s 8 military tasks)
- overseeing the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE), which includes all the organisations, programmes and people within government that sustain the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent
- advising on UK nuclear policy, planning and international cooperation on nuclear matters
Read our guidance on the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
Who we are
The DNO is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and is led by Chief of Defence Nuclear, Madelaine McTernan CB.
The DNO is made up of over 750 people. Our head office is based in the MOD Main Building, London, but we have staff spread across three other sites in Bristol, Reading and Scotland.
The Defence Nuclear Enterprise
The DNE is a partnership of organisations that operate, maintain, renew and sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent. It includes DNO, Royal Navy, Submarine Delivery Agency and Atomic Weapons Establishment.
First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key, is joint head of the DNE alongside Chief of Defence Nuclear, Madelaine McTernan CB.
Civil industry partners also form part of the DNE, including:
- BAE Systems - manufacture all the UK’s current submarines
- Babcock International - maintain UK submarines
- Rolls-Royce Submarines Ltd - provide the submarine propulsion systems
We work closely with our partners in the DNE to offer a range of programmes designed to support those entering at apprenticeship or graduate level, to those looking to transition back into a STEM career or leave military service.
Find out more about DNE careers and pathways.