The U.S. Army announced Wednesday its plan to install nuclear microreactors at five military installations across the country, a move intended to secure a reliable energy supply independent of the commercial electric grid. This initiative is part of a broader effort to advance nuclear power development.
The Army will award up to $2.2 billion over five years to five selected companies, which will be responsible for owning, constructing, and operating the microreactors. The Army anticipates that more than 20 such reactors will eventually be deployed. These microreactors are designed to provide a resilient power source for critical infrastructure on military bases, ensuring energy availability even if the main grid fails. They are capable of operating for years without refueling.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll stated that these awards will expedite the military's ability to deliver "safe, reliable baseload power directly to our installations." He added, "We are building the energy resilience necessary to project combat power globally, without relying on potentially vulnerable external grids."
This effort is a key component of the Army's "Janus Program," launched last year to foster next-generation nuclear energy. Officials hope this program will transition advanced reactor designs from experimental stages to practical, long-term power generation. The reactors are not intended to be exclusively for military use, according to Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment.
Critics, however, have raised concerns about the cost and safety of nuclear reactors. Alan J. Kuperman, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin, described the program as potentially providing a "hidden subsidy" to companies struggling to find private sector customers for their reactors. He also expressed concern that the Army's licensing of these reactors, rather than the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, poses safety risks.
Army officials maintain that the reactors are designed to shut down safely in case of failure and that their small size and the Army's stringent vetting process ensure safety. Plans are also underway with the Department of Energy to manage radioactive waste, with no long-term storage planned for the installations themselves. The Army is working to align its regulatory processes with those of the NRC to facilitate future commercial licensing.
The initiative aligns with President Donald Trump's executive orders from May 2025, which aimed to accelerate nuclear power development. The Army was tasked with having an advanced reactor operational at a domestic military installation by September 30, 2028.
The five companies selected and their respective bases are: Antares Nuclear at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, BWXT at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems at Fort Hood in Texas, Radiant Industries at Fort Benning in Georgia, and Westinghouse Government Services at Fort Drum in New York. The selection of Fort Drum was reportedly at the request of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Each microreactor will generate between 1 and 20 megawatts of power, supplementing, rather than replacing, the existing grid connection. The Army currently relies on diesel as a primary backup power source, a method Waksman noted could be problematic in conflict zones where fossil fuel transport may be difficult. "That makes nuclear energy just a natural game changer," he said.
Historically, a reactor at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, completed in 1957, was the first nuclear power reactor to supply electricity to a U.S. commercial power grid for an extended period.