US Army picks five firms for $2.2 billion microreactor push

The US Army has announced up to $2.2 billion in awards to five companies to build and operate small nuclear reactors, known as microreactors, on military installations. The initiative, called the Janus program, aims to provide power to remote bases, including those in Alaska and on islands, with the first reactor targeted for deployment by September 2028.

Microreactors are factory-built nuclear plants designed for easy transport, each capable of generating up to 20 megawatts of power. The selected companies and their respective bases are: Antares Nuclear Inc (Fort Bragg, North Carolina), BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC (Fort Campbell, Kentucky), General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (Fort Hood, Texas), Radiant Industries Inc (Fort Benning, Georgia), and Westinghouse Government Services (Fort Drum, New York).

The Army did not disclose the exact distribution of funds, but Radiant Industries confirmed it will receive up to $750 million to develop and deploy 15 of its Kaleidos reactors. While the reactors must comply with all environmental and safety regulations applicable to commercial reactors, they will be overseen by the Army rather than the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, said the goal is to eventually create a commercial product. He acknowledged that microreactors are unlikely to be cheaper than conventional plants initially, but the program is intended to explore ways to reduce costs. The military currently spends about 40 cents per kilowatt hour to power Arctic installations, a figure it hopes to lower.

Radiant's Chief Commercial Officer Mike Starrett said the award is crucial for scaling up the company's operations, with an eye toward serving commercial clients like data centers by around 2030. He added that because the containerized reactors can be delivered directly to customers, eliminating transmission fees, the delivered cost could range between 20 and 30 cents per kilowatt hour. The Army also expects the private sector to contribute additional capital beyond the federal investment.