US Army Plans $2.2B Nuclear Microreactor Push Across Five Bases
Five companies could receive $2.2 billion over five years to deploy nuclear microreactors at Army installations, with over 20 reactors ultimately expected.
The U.S. Army plans to spend up to $2.2 billion on nuclear microreactors at five military bases, accelerating an effort to secure power for critical operations without relying entirely on commercial electricity grids.
The Army has selected five companies for the program, with funding to be awarded over five years if they meet performance milestones.
The Army eventually expects to build and operate more than 20 microreactors.
The reactors would provide between 1 megawatt and 20 megawatts each, depending on the design.
The bases will remain connected to commercial grids, with nuclear power intended to supplement rather than fully replace existing supplies.
Five Bases Selected
Antares Nuclear has been paired with Fort Bragg in North Carolina, BWXT with Fort Campbell in Kentucky, and General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems with Fort Hood in Texas.
Radiant Industries will work at Fort Benning in Georgia, while Westinghouse Government Services has been selected for Fort Drum in New York.
Army officials chose five companies partly to reduce execution risk as the military attempts to put advanced nuclear technology into operation.
The initiative forms part of the Janus Program, launched to move next-generation nuclear systems beyond experimental projects and into sustained operation.
Energy Resilience Drives Program
The Army sees microreactors as a potential source of continuous power for critical infrastructure during prolonged grid disruptions.
The systems can operate for years without refueling.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said the awards would accelerate efforts “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,” he said.
The Army currently relies heavily on diesel generators for backup power.
Officials argue that transporting fossil fuels could become difficult during a conflict, increasing the appeal of energy sources that can operate independently for extended periods.
More Than 20 Reactors Expected
The Army expects the five companies to deploy more than 20 microreactors in total.
Antares and Radiant plan to supply their systems in groups of three, according to Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment.
The program is also intended to help reactor designs make the transition from prototypes to broader commercial use.
“These are not meant to be Army-specific designs,” Waksman said.
The Army expects the federal funding to be accompanied by billions of dollars in private investment.
Army to License Reactors
Unlike commercial nuclear facilities, the military reactors will be licensed by the Army rather than the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Officials say they are seeking to align Army requirements with civilian regulatory processes so companies would not need extensive redesigns if they later seek NRC approval.
Waksman said the reactors would be designed to shut down safely during failures and would only be installed after the Army was satisfied with their safety.
The Army is also working with the Energy Department on arrangements to remove radioactive waste. Officials do not plan long-term waste storage at the five installations.
Critics Question Cost and Oversight
The program has drawn criticism from opponents of expanded nuclear development, who argue that new reactors are expensive and riskier than other energy sources.
Alan J. Kuperman, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, said the Army was using military funding to subsidize nuclear developers whose projects had struggled to attract private-sector customers.
He described the program as “a dangerous scam on many levels,” citing the Army’s role as regulator as one of his concerns.
2028 Deadline
The Army’s nuclear push follows executive orders President Donald Trump signed in May 2025 to accelerate nuclear power development.
The military was directed to have an advanced reactor operating at a domestic installation by September 30, 2028.
No nuclear microreactors currently supply electricity to the U.S. commercial grid.
Army officials say the five-company structure reflects the technical challenge of reaching operational deployment on that timetable.
