The US Army has launched a major initiative to develop and deploy small nuclear reactors at remote military bases, aiming to provide a reliable and continuous supply of electricity at installations where conventional power sources remain costly or difficult to maintain.
Under the Janus programme, the Army has awarded contracts to five companies with a combined potential value of up to $2.2 billion. The selected companies will develop, build and operate microreactors that could eventually supply power to military installations in remote locations, including Alaska and isolated islands.
Known as microreactors, these compact nuclear power systems can be manufactured largely in factories before being transported to their intended locations. Each reactor could generate up to 20 megawatts of electricity, depending on its design and operating conditions.
The Army has set a target of installing the programme’s first reactor by September 2028. Officials view the project as a way to strengthen energy security at bases that currently depend on vulnerable power grids, fuel deliveries or expensive local generation systems.
The five companies selected for the programme will work at different US military installations. Antares Nuclear will operate at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, BWXT Advanced Technologies 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 Army has not disclosed how much each company could receive under its contract. However, Radiant Industries said it could receive up to $750 million to manufacture and install 15 units of its Kaleidos reactor under the programme.
The initiative comes as the US military looks for alternatives to traditional energy systems, particularly at bases located in areas where extending power infrastructure or transporting fuel can cost millions of dollars. Arctic installations face some of the highest energy costs, with the Army estimating that electricity can cost around 40 cents per kilowatt-hour at certain remote locations.
Army officials say the programme will require the reactors to meet applicable environmental and safety standards used for commercial nuclear facilities. However, the military plans to oversee the reactors rather than relying on the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for direct regulation of the systems.
Officials also hope the project will help establish a commercial model for microreactors that could eventually expand beyond military applications. If the technology proves practical and economically viable, similar systems could potentially provide power to other remote or energy-intensive locations.
Despite the potential benefits, microreactors face criticism over their cost. Critics argue that small nuclear reactors may produce electricity at a higher price than larger conventional nuclear plants because they cannot benefit from the same economies of scale.
Army officials acknowledge that they do not expect microreactors to be cheaper than conventional nuclear plants. Instead, the Janus programme aims to identify ways to reduce manufacturing and deployment costs as the technology develops.
Mike Start, chief commercial officer at Radiant Industries, said the company’s containerised reactors could be transported directly to customers. Such a system could reduce or eliminate some of the infrastructure and transmission costs associated with delivering electricity over long distances.
The US Army ultimately wants the programme to demonstrate whether compact nuclear reactors can provide stable, long-term and locally generated electricity at military bases where conventional energy supplies are expensive or unreliable. If successful, the initiative could mark a significant step in the Pentagon’s efforts to diversify its energy sources and improve the resilience of remote military installations.
