Army plans to add nuclear microreactors to five bases for reliable power

Key Points:

• The U.S. Army plans to deploy nuclear microreactors at five military bases across the country to provide reliable, independent energy sources separate from the commercial electric grid, with over 20 microreactors expected to be built and operated.
• Five companies have been awarded up to $2.2 billion over five years to develop and operate these microreactors, which offer resilient power for critical military infrastructure and can run for years without refueling.
• The initiative is part of the Army’s Janus Program, aiming to advance next-generation nuclear energy beyond prototypes, with reactors expected to generate between 1 to 20 megawatts each and remain connected to the grid.
• Reactors will be licensed by the Army rather than the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, with efforts to align regulatory processes to facilitate future commercial licensing; the program also seeks to address safety and radioactive waste removal concerns.
• The program supports the Trump administration’s push to accelerate nuclear power development, with military leaders emphasizing nuclear energy’s strategic advantage over fossil fuels for energy resilience in conflict scenarios.