U.S. Army selects five bases for $2 billion nuclear micro-reactor rollout
The Army announced five sites where private firms will build micro-reactors under the Janus Program, with contracts worth up to $2.2 billion.
The U.S. Army’s Janus Program disclosed five military installations that will receive nuclear micro-reactors, allocating up to $2.2 billion to five private firms for design, construction and operation. Fort Bragg, North Carolina will host Antares Nuclear’s Mark-0 reactor, while BWXT Advanced Technologies, General Atomic Electromagnetic Systems, Radiant Industries and Westinghouse Government Systems will each install units at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Benning, Georgia; and Fort Drum, New York respectively.
The contracts, contingent on meeting technical milestones, are part of a broader effort to field more than 20 micro-reactors across bases over the next five years, with capacities from 1 to 5 megawatts enough to power several hundred homes. The Army anticipates the first reactor becoming operational by September 2028 and full electricity generation by 2027-2028, while the waste generated will be removed within two years of shutdown under a pending agreement with the Department of Energy.
The initiative seeks to enhance energy resilience, allowing bases to operate independently of civilian grids and to deploy portable power to remote locations. Private sector investment is expected to match the federal outlay, potentially bringing billions of additional dollars to the projects.
Why it matters
It could give U.S. military bases reliable, long-lasting power and reduce dependence on civilian electricity grids.
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