<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The U.S. Army has identified five military bases where it will install advanced nuclear reactors to enhance power supply for military operations, with an estimated cost exceeding $2 billion.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Army announced on August 26, 2026, that its new Janus Program has selected five nuclear companies to construct microreactors at military installations across the United States, from Texas to New York.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">These five companies will receive up to a combined $2.2 billion to own, construct, and operate the reactors on-site. The Army stated that funding will be distributed to the companies only after they meet specific technical goals.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Officials indicated that they expect the private sector to invest billions of dollars in these projects as well. This funding will support the construction of over 20 nuclear microreactors at military installations over the next five years.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">At Fort Bragg in North Carolina, advanced nuclear developer Antares Nuclear will install its microreactor, the Mark-0. This reactor was the first small modular reactor developed under the Trump administration’s pilot programs to achieve criticality in the summer of 2026, indicating it is stable and capable of producing energy.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Antares plans to begin electricity production from its advanced reactors in 2027 and deploy them at military installations in 2028.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">BWXT Advanced Technologies will install its reactor at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, while General Atomic Electromagnetic Systems will deploy its technology at Fort Hood in Texas. Radiant Industries will install a reactor at Fort Benning in Georgia, and Westinghouse Government Systems is set to build a reactor at Fort Drum in New York.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Army did not disclose the specific amounts awarded to each company or the exact number of reactors committed to each location.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Radiant Industries reported that its agreement totals up to $750 million to deploy 15 microreactors with a capacity of approximately 1 megawatt by 2030, marking it as the largest award within the Janus Program.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Microreactors are significantly smaller than traditional reactors, which can generate up to 1,000 megawatts, and even small modular reactors, which can produce around 300 megawatts. Microreactors typically generate up to 50 megawatts, with some under the Janus Program potentially having a capacity as low as 1 megawatt, enough to power between 400 to 900 homes.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">These reactors are expected to have lifespans lasting several decades. For instance, General Atomics’ 5-megawatt microreactor is designed to have a lifespan of 40 years.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Army is finalizing a deal to manage the nuclear waste generated by the reactors. Dr. Jeff Waksman, the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations in energy and environment, stated that there will be no long-term waste storage on-site, and all waste will be removed within two years of any reactor shutting down.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The Army has responsibility for the entire Pentagon to negotiate that nuclear waste deal with the Department of Energy,” Waksman said. “We don’t have that fully signed and agreed to yet, but the intent is to have a deal with the Department of Energy where the waste would go to a DOE site.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Under the Janus Program, the Army aims to have the first microreactor operational by September 2028.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The U.S. military is increasingly interested in utilizing nuclear power as a backup energy source, as reactors can function for years without refueling. This capability would allow military bases to maintain operations even if the civilian electrical grid is disrupted.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Due to their size, microreactors are portable, enabling the military to transport additional power to bases worldwide, including those in remote areas lacking access to traditional fossil fuel infrastructure.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">All five military bases will remain connected to local grids after the reactors are deployed. Officials stated that the reactors will provide resilient power to critical infrastructure on base but will not supply 100% of the power required by the facilities.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Janus Program is part of a broader effort initiated during the Trump administration to enhance the domestic nuclear energy industry and quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity by 2050 to meet increasing power demands driven by artificial intelligence.</p>