Two advanced supercomputers, named Mission and Vision, are set to be operational at the Los Alamos National Laboratory by 2027. These systems will play a crucial role in enhancing national security science, research, and artificial intelligence applications across the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) complex, according to an announcement made on a recent Tuesday.
The development of these supercomputers will be a collaborative effort between Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and NVIDIA, with HPE serving as the prime contractor. The NNSA Administrator, Brandon Williams, highlighted the significance of this project, stating, “NNSA has a proud history of applying science and technology to national security challenges. The next generation of NNSA supercomputers marks a significant milestone in ensuring America’s leadership in the global AI race.”
Funding for Mission and Vision will be sourced from anticipated future appropriations, as specified in the release. HPE will construct these systems based on their newly launched Cray Supercomputing GX5000 platform, which is designed to maximize computational power. The supercomputers will also incorporate the NVIDIA Vera Rubin platform, specifically tailored for AI-driven supercomputing tasks.
When Mission becomes operational, it will take on classified work, replacing the current Crossroads computing resource at the laboratory. This new system is expected to enhance time-to-solution capabilities significantly and support multiple simultaneous simulations, addressing large and complex computational challenges.
On the other hand, Vision will build upon the existing capabilities of the lab’s Venado supercomputer, which was installed in 2024. This system will focus on unclassified work, facilitating research in diverse fields such as national security, materials science, energy modeling, and biomedical research. Both supercomputers are designed with similar AI functionalities, allowing them to handle various workloads and user groups simultaneously.
As the project progresses, detailed timelines and completion updates will be made available. Thom Mason, Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, emphasized the importance of this investment, remarking, “The Mission and Vision systems represent a significant investment in our national security science and basic science capabilities. HPE and NVIDIA are experienced partners in this space, capable of delivering technology that offers the capabilities Los Alamos needs to fulfill its essential role, especially as we lead the way in integrating AI into the modeling and simulation at the heart of our mission. These systems are purpose-built for supercomputing in the AI era.”
The introduction of these supercomputers is poised to bolster the United States’ technological edge in critical areas, ensuring that Los Alamos continues to play a pivotal role in national and global security advancements.
