The US Army has identified energy vendors and military installations to construct and operate small nuclear reactors under its Janus Program.
The US Army has identified energy vendors and military installations to construct and operate small nuclear reactors under its Janus Program.
In partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit, Janus awards up to $2.2 billion to field more than 20 contractor-owned microreactors to implement energy independence at critical bases, sustaining operability during blackouts or potential conflicts.
The effort will run through 2031, by which time the Pentagon expects decreased sourcing from traditional liquid fossil fuels.
Washington previously specified that compact solutions for this initiative should be able to generate a maximum of 20 megawatts of electricity.
After activation, the systems will support various tactical assets, including command systems, electronic warfare solutions, and global troop deployment capabilities.
Soldiers support loading operations of a next-generation nuclear reactor onto a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. Photo: Wendy Day/US Air ForceFive Companies, Five Bases
Among the industry partners selected is Antares Nuclear, which will provide its TRISO-fueled, factory-built microreactor to Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
Meanwhile, BWXT Advanced Technologies will deliver its high-temperature, gas-cooled BANR technology for Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
Defense giant General Atomics, through its Electromagnetic Systems segment, will also provide its scalable, liquid-metal-cooled GA-TES microreactor in support of Fort Hood in Texas.
At the same time, Fort Benning in Georgia will receive the Kaleidos plug-in microreactor system from Radiant Industries.
Westinghouse Government Services was also selected to supply its eVinci heat-pipe microreactor for Fort Drum in New York.
Operational Capability by 2028
The firms will receive funding through milestone-based payments tied to technical achievements, with each reactor expected to supplement grids without requiring long-term on-base nuclear waste storage.
The US Army is planning toward a September 2028 target to field its first operational, service-regulated reactor, aligning with broader energy security goals sought under Washington’s executive order in 2025.
"The Army is leading the nation in its return to nuclear preeminence," Janus Program Manager Jason Craft stated.
"Our selected industry awardees represent the most viable technologies to achieve this capability, setting conditions for both installation energy resilience and operational energy solutions."
Janus Program
A presidential executive order issued in May 2025 led to the creation of the Janus program, which aims to deploy more than 20 nuclear microreactors across military installations, with funding allocated across fiscal years 2027-2031.
Vendors are expected to own and operate the prototype reactors.
Each contract per company uses a milestone-based payment model and varies in terms of the reactor quantity, funding, and delivery schedules.
The service also has the flexibility to terminate contracts with poorly performing companies and transfer the funding into other companies, as per MeriTalk, citing Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the army for installations, energy, and environment.
“Awarding these contracts accelerates our ability to deliver safe, reliable baseload power directly to our installations. We are building the energy resilience necessary to project combat power globally, without relying on potentially vulnerable external grids,” said Dan Driscoll, Secretary of the Army.
