U.S. Army To Spend $2.2B On Nuclear Microreactors At Military Bases
Back in October 2025, the U.S. Army unveiled the Janus Program to supply portable nuclear microreactors to military bases by 2028. Whereas these reactors are much smaller than conventional nuclear plants, they typically generate 1-20 megawatts of electricity per reactor, significantly more than what the biggest portable generators can manage. That makes them ideal for the military, considering…
In October 2025, the U.S. Army introduced the Janus Program, aiming to deploy portable nuclear microreactors at military bases by 2028. These reactors, generating 1-20 megawatts of electricity, are a significant improvement over traditional nuclear plants. The primary advantage is their ability to provide power to large military bases, akin to the energy consumption of a small city, without the need for frequent refueling.
To achieve this, the Army has allocated up to $2.2 billion over five years to private and public companies for the construction, ownership, and operation of commercial nuclear microreactors at five domestic military installations. Twenty microreactors are expected to be deployed within this framework. Five vendors have been chosen to design and operate the microreactors at specific sites, including Antares Nuclear for Fort Bragg in North Carolina, BWXT Technologies for Fort Campbell in Kentucky, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems for Fort Hood in Texas, Radiant Industries for Fort Benning in Georgia, and Westinghouse Government Services for Fort Drum in New York.
Two companies, Antares Nuclear and Radiant Industries, have already secured substantial contracts for their respective microreactor designs. These reactors are designed to be modular, factory-built, and transportable, enabling quick deployment via conventional transportation methods. The U.S. Army will license these reactors instead of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a decision that has faced criticism.
While the Army aims to transition these reactors to the commercial market for easier regulatory oversight, the Energy Department will handle waste management. Despite ongoing challenges, SMRs are increasingly seen as crucial for grid stability and the transition to clean energy, with the U.S. government aiming for a 300 GW expansion by 2050.
Various tech giants, including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta, have already entered into contracts with SMR developers to power their data centers and AI operations.
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