Rolls-Royce SMR partnership with Curtiss-Wright will boost UK supply chain

Curtiss-Wright, which has kept nuclear assets and operations safe since the earliest days of the industry, will provide design, qualification, testing and supply of the ‘non-programmable diverse reactor protection systems’* for a global fleet of Rolls-Royce SMRs.

The design and implementation will be delivered from the company’s facility in Wimborne, Dorset, supporting regional economic growth by creating more than 200 UK jobs, as well as expanding the UK’s nuclear skills, opportunities and capabilities.

Ruth Todd, Rolls-Royce SMR’s Operations & Supply Chain Director, said: “We are delighted to begin this important and enduring partnership with Curtiss-Wright. Securing industry leading expertise will further de-risk our programme by underpinning a critical element of the design.”

Ognjen Starovic, General Manager, Curtiss-Wright, said: “We have a strong UK-based team focused on supporting this partnership and we’re all excited to be part of the Rolls-Royce SMR story. We take great pride in helping to deliver a British SMR, as well as provide our people with new career opportunities and create long-term job growth in the region.”

The Rolls-Royce SMR will be the first new nuclear power station to be designed and built in the UK for more than a generation and offers a radically different approach based on proven technology. Each ‘factory-built’ nuclear power plant will provide enough affordable, low-carbon electricity to power a million homes for more than 60 years.

In October 2024, Rolls-Royce SMR was selected by CEZ to deploy up to 3GW of electricity in the Czech Republic and in July 2025, Rolls-Royce SMR was selected as preferred bidder by Great British Energy – Nuclear to provide the UK’s first SMRs. The Rolls-Royce SMR is progressing through the final stage of Assessment by the UK nuclear industry’s independent regulators – further ahead than any other SMR in a European regulatory process.