US Army bets on nuclear microreactors to keep bases running when grids fail

The U.S. Army has chosen five nuclear energy companies and five military bases for its Janus Program. This is a big move toward putting nuclear microreactors on U.S. bases. The Army announced the decision on August 26 and aims to have its first reactor running on a base by September 2028. The Army, working with the Department of War Innovation Unit (DIU), plans to spend up to $2.2 billion from 2027 to 2031. This money will help develop, build, and run contractor-owned microreactors that will supply steady power to military bases. Five vendors, five military bases The selected companies and their planned locations are: Antares Nuclear, Inc. at Fort Bragg in North Carolina; BWXT Advanced Technologies, LLC at Fort Campbell in Kentucky; General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems at Fort Hood in Texas; Radiant Industries, Inc. at Fort Benning in Georgia; and Westinghouse Government Services at Fort Drum in New York. The Army expects private companies to invest alongside the government to support more than 20 nuclear microreactors at Department of War bases. “Since launching the Janus Program, our mandate from President Trump and Secretary Hegseth has been clear: secure the power our warfighters need to train, deploy, and win,” highlighted Dan Driscoll, Secretary of the Army. “Awarding these contracts accelerates our ability to deliver safe, reliable baseload power directly to our installations. We are building the energy resilience necessary to project combat power globally, without relying on potentially vulnerable external grids.” Program targets long-term power Janus builds on earlier U.S. nuclear projects like Project Pele and the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program. The Army is looking for systems that can produce electricity for long periods, not just for short tests. “The Janus Program is grabbing the baton from Project Pele and the DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program,” Dr. Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, said in a statement. “We are seeking not just reactors capable of turning on for a brief demonstration, but rather systems able to deliver power with high-capacity factors for years of operation. The Janus Program will be a complete success when and only when we have assisted multiple nuclear companies in developing truly reliable and affordable nuclear microreactors which they can sell to other buyers beyond just the military.” Safety-guided site selection The Army spent a year looking at possible locations, checking energy needs as well as seismic and water-related factors. Experts from the Department of Energy, national labs, and the military also reviewed technical risks, finances, and management skills. “When DOE created an authorization pathway for the demonstration of advanced reactor designs, we quickly began to realize how valuable these technologies could be for fortifying our national defense infrastructure,” revealed Assistant Secretary of Nuclear Energy Ted Garrish. “We are honored to work in lockstep with the Army to leverage nuclear energy innovation in support of our country’s military operations at home and abroad.” The companies will get paid after they meet certain technical goals. The reactors will stay owned and run by the contractors, while the Army works with utility companies to connect them. “We need more power. We need it delivered faster and cheaper, and we need it to be more reliable,” added Owen West, Director, DIU. “With Janus, DIU is assisting the Army’s micro reactor build – speeding military energy production to protect the nation.” The Army plans to announce additional sites later as Janus expands across military services. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.