US Army Awards Up to $2.2B for Microreactors on Five Bases

TL;DR: On Aug. 26, 2026, the U.S. Army awarded up to $2.2 billion in milestone-based agreements to five vendors to build and operate microreactors on five Army bases, with at least one reactor required to deliver power by Sept. 30, 2028.

The U.S. Army said on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, that it will award up to a combined $2.2 billion to five companies to design, construct and operate nuclear microreactors on five domestic military installations. The announcement was reported by Reuters in "US Army awards up to $2.2 billion to five companies to build microreactors on bases | Reuters" and detailed by DefenseScoop in "Army to host nuclear microreactors at Forts Bragg, Campbell, Hood, Benning and Drum". The Army expects the effort to produce more than 20 reactors over five years. The funding period covers fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Payments will be released only when vendors meet technical milestones. The reactors will be contractor-owned and contractor-operated. The Army will not own the plants. The program is called the Janus Program. It was developed with the Defense Innovation Unit. The stated goal is resilient power for critical infrastructure without full dependence on commercial grids.

What the Army announced on Aug. 26

The Department of the Army named five vendors and five host installations on Aug. 26, 2026. The pairings match Antares Nuclear Inc. with Fort Bragg in North Carolina. They match BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC with Fort Campbell in Kentucky. They match General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems with Fort Hood in Texas. They match Radiant Industries Inc. with Fort Benning in Georgia. They match Westinghouse Government Services with Fort Drum in New York. The selections were made after a competitive source selection conducted with the Defense Innovation Unit. The vehicle is Other Transaction agreements. Each company received an agreement with its own milestones, dollar amounts and reactor quantities. The Army did not publish an equal split of the $2.2 billion. The Army said vendors will design, build and operate their own systems for energy generation. The Army said the deals are intended to accelerate delivery of baseload power to installations. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said awarding the contracts accelerates delivery of safe, reliable baseload power directly to installations. Driscoll said the program builds energy resilience needed to project combat power without relying on potentially vulnerable external grids.

Why Janus uses contractor ownership

The Janus reactors will be contractor-owned and contractor-operated. The Army will not own the power plants. Developers will invest alongside the government and retain ownership during construction and operation. Federal payments will be tied to technical milestones. The Army said the model shares development costs. The Army said the model shifts financial risk to the private sector. Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, said the majority of money entering the reactor programs is expected to be private capital. Waksman said the companies are still raising money following the announcement. Waksman said each agreement has a unique set of milestones that determine payment and continuation. Waksman said the milestones are flexible and carry no termination fees. Waksman said the Army can withdraw future milestones if a company does not perform. Waksman said withheld funds could be directed to another company. Waksman said a new company could be added later if that benefits the government. The Army said the approach is similar to commercial models that keep daily management with industry specialists. The Fort Drum announcement said contractor operation keeps specialized facilities in the hands of certified industry experts. The Army and federal regulators will retain oversight. Awardees must comply with security protocols and safety regulations.

The five base-and-vendor pairings

Antares Nuclear will work at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. BWXT Advanced Technologies will work at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems will work at Fort Hood, Texas. Radiant Industries will work at Fort Benning, Georgia. Westinghouse Government Services will work at Fort Drum, New York. The five bases were selected from nine finalists announced in November 2025. The four short-listed sites not selected in this phase were Fort Wainwright in Alaska. They also included Holston Army Ammunition Plant in Tennessee. They also included Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. They also included Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. Waksman said the Army analyzed installations for seismic risk and natural disaster risk. The analysis also reviewed energy costs at each installation. It also reviewed energy resiliency challenges. The initial nine-site candidate list was announced last fall. The final matching process considered company and site compatibility. Waksman said utility relationships affected matching. He said installation power needs affected matching. He said reactor size affected matching. He said construction methods affected matching. He said some designs sit largely on the surface. He said other designs require digging below grade. He said soil conditions affected suitability. He said seismic conditions affected suitability. He said bedrock depth affected suitability.

How big the reactors will be

The reactors range from about 1 megawatt to 20 megawatts, depending on the company. Reuters reported that microreactors are factory-built plants that developers say can be transported and can generate up to 20 megawatts each. DefenseScoop reported that delivery under the agreements will occur over the next five years. Waksman told reporters that reactor size varies by vendor. The Fort Drum announcement said planned microreactors will generate under 20 megawatts of electricity. The announcement said each system will occupy less than five acres. The systems are designed for localized resiliency of critical mission infrastructure. They can integrate into the existing commercial grid without disrupting current land use. The five bases will remain connected to the commercial power grid. Waksman said Janus reactors are not intended to supply 100% of an installation's power. They are intended to remain connected and provide resilient power to critical infrastructure if the grid fails. The plants include passive safety systems. The Fort Drum announcement said safety features include passive, built-in systems capable of safe automatic shutdown in an emergency. It said shutdown requires no manual operator action. It said shutdown requires no external backup power.

The Sept. 30, 2028 deadline

At least one microreactor must be operating and providing useful electricity by Sept. 30, 2028. The deadline comes from Executive Order 14299, signed by President Donald Trump in May 2025. The order directed operation of an Army-regulated reactor at a domestic military installation no later than Sept. 30, 2028. The Janus Program was launched in October 2025. The Army was designated as executive agent for Pentagon installation and operational nuclear energy efforts. The Army was tasked with establishing a program of record. The Army does not expect all five vendors to operate a reactor by the 2028 date. Waksman said the five companies definitely will not all turn on a reactor in 2028. Waksman said the Army has a practical pathway to delivering at least one reactor on or by Sept. 30, 2028. The Army has not identified which company will deliver the first operating reactor. The 2028 target is the first major delivery milestone. The broader deployment continues over five years. Bloomberg reported that the effort is expected to lead to more than 20 reactors installed within five years. DefenseScoop reported that the Army anticipates more than 20 microreactors built and operated at Defense Department installations. MeriTalk reported that the Army expects more than 20 microreactors built and operated across Department of Defense installations.

Antares at Fort Bragg

Antares Nuclear Inc. was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Antares is developing sodium heat-pipe cooled microreactor technology. The design uses TRISO fuel containing high-assay low-enriched uranium known as HALEU. The Department of Energy provided 19.75% HALEU feedstock for fuel development. Antares uses BWXT to fabricate TRISO fuel particles, according to company information reported by Breaking Defense in "Army taps 5 vendors to move forward with nuclear microreactor prototypes". Antares became the first participant in the Department of Energy Reactor Pilot Program to achieve nuclear criticality. The Mark-0 demonstration reactor reached criticality in June. Engineering News-Record reported in "Army Picks Five Developers for $2.2B Microreactor Program | Engineering News-Record" that the Mark-0 test reactor achieved criticality on June 4. The Reactor Pilot Program was launched in June 2025. It offers a separate path for private developers to build and operate advanced test reactors. Antares CEO Jordan Bramble said the company will deliver clean, firm, resilient power for the warfighter through Janus. Bramble said energy scarcity is constraining critical defense systems.

BWXT at Fort Campbell

BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. BWXT plans to deploy a 20-MWe version of its BWXT Advanced Nuclear Reactor, or BANR. The BANR is a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. It uses TRISO fuel. It is designed for critical infrastructure. It is designed for modular construction. Major components will be manufactured off site. Components will be transported by road or rail. BWXT is targeting groundbreaking for site construction in late 2028. BWXT expects reactor operations to begin in the early 2030s. Burns & McDonnell is providing detailed engineering for balance-of-plant systems and plant layout. Burns & McDonnell is also providing preconstruction and constructability work. The firm is providing scheduling and cost estimating. Work before construction includes site selection and characterization. It includes Army nuclear regulatory reviews. It includes preparation for long-lead procurements. BWXT plans to begin manufacturing TRISO fuel at existing facilities. BWXT plans to establish an entity that will operate the plant. BWXT President and CEO Rex D. Geveden said BANR is purpose-built for mission success. Geveden said the company is driving forward with discipline and proven capability for national security.

General Atomics at Fort Hood

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas. The company is developing the General Atomics Tactical Energy System, or GA-TES. The GA-TES is a liquid-metal-cooled microreactor. It has a baseline net output of about 5 MWe. It can scale to about 20 MWe. The design is intended for remote, off-grid and extreme environments. The design life is 40 years. The system is designed for transport by truck or rail. It uses natural-circulation cooling. It does not require large cooling-water infrastructure. Initial work at Fort Hood covers development and testing. It also covers site planning toward potential deployment. General Atomics cites more than 70 years of nuclear innovation. The company cites experience designing and deploying 68 reactors worldwide. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems President Scott Forney said the company's experience positions it to deliver assured energy solutions. Forney said the solutions enhance operational resilience and strengthen mission readiness. Fort Hood was previously identified as an initial Janus site. The Army published a photo of mortar training at Fort Hood when announcing the site selection.

Radiant at Fort Benning

Radiant Industries Inc. was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia. Radiant is developing the Kaleidos 1-MW transportable microreactor. Radiant said its agreement with the Army and Defense Innovation Unit is worth up to $750 million. The agreement covers development and deployment of up to 15 Kaleidos microreactors. Engineering News-Record reported that the plan relies on multiple smaller units rather than a single larger reactor. Engineering News-Record reported that deployment of 15 1-MW units is planned by 2030. Kaleidos reactors are designed to arrive sealed and fueled. Radiant will be responsible for fueling and refueling. Radiant will be responsible for spent-fuel storage. Radiant is constructing a 300,000-square-foot manufacturing, fueling and storage plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Oak Ridge plant will support planned deployments. Radiant Chief Nuclear Officer Rita Baranwal said the design uses fuel made to company specifications. The Department of Energy provided 19.75% HALEU. The company fuel fabricator Standard Nuclear used that feedstock to produce TRISO fuel particles for fuel compacts. Radiant President and Chief Operating Officer Tori Shivanandan said the award shows confidence in Radiant's product. Shivanandan said it shows confidence in the company's ability to manufacture, deploy and operate microreactors for the military.

Westinghouse at Fort Drum

Westinghouse Government Services was assigned to Fort Drum, New York. Westinghouse developed the eVinci microreactor. The eVinci is a heat-pipe reactor. It is designed to provide electricity 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is designed to operate for eight years without refueling. Fort Drum was announced as a Janus host on Aug. 26, 2026. Fort Drum Garrison Public Affairs reported the selection. Maj. Gen. Scott Naumann, commander of the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum, said Fort Drum is the Army's premier power-projection platform in the Northeast. Naumann said readiness demands reliable power in every contingency. Naumann said the Janus initiative provides the resilient energy foundation soldiers need. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy and Sustainability Brandon Cockrell said site selections considered mission requirements. He said selections considered power demand. He said selections considered grid maturity. He said selections considered safety and environmental factors. Cockrell said power projection was a critical aspect. Jason Craft, Army Nuclear Energy Office and Janus Program Director, said selected industry awardees represent the most viable technologies. Craft said the Army is leading the nation in its return to nuclear preeminence through Janus.

From Pele to Janus

The Janus Program follows the Defense Department's Project Pele. Project Pele focused on developing and testing a prototype nuclear reactor. It grew from a 2016 Defense Science Board study of military energy needs. The study sought proof of concept for a transportable microreactor. BWXT won the prototype construction contract in 2022. BWXT is manufacturing a 1.5-MW reactor in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Pele unit will be tested at Idaho National Laboratory. Pele is intended to complete construction in 2027. Pele will serve as a test bed for tests, experiments and training. Pele will not sell electricity. Janus is designed to deliver commercially operating microreactors. Waksman said Janus seeks systems able to deliver power with high-capacity factors for years of operation. Waksman said Janus seeks more than reactors capable of turning on for a brief demonstration. Waksman said Janus will be a complete success only when multiple companies develop reliable and affordable microreactors. He said success requires companies to sell to buyers beyond the military. Defense Innovation Unit Energy Portfolio Director Andrew Higier said vendors were placed on significant contracts quickly. Higier said the project will help build an industrial base. Owen West, director of the Defense Innovation Unit, said the military needs more power delivered faster and cheaper. West said Janus speeds military energy production to protect the nation.

Regulation, grid role and waste

Janus reactors on Army installations will be Army-licensed. They will not be licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Army is working with the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to align regulatory processes. The alignment is intended to help companies pursue later commercial approval after Army approval. A panel of nuclear and technical experts from the Department of Energy and national laboratories reviewed vendor risks. The panel reviewed technical risks, financial situations and management capabilities. Janus reactors will not leave long-term nuclear waste on installations. The program requires removal of all nuclear waste and radiological material within two years after shutdown. The Fort Drum announcement said used fuel and activated materials will remain on site only for a federally mandated cooldown period. It said materials will then be transported to designated Department of Energy or National Laboratory facilities. It said permanent spent-fuel storage will not occur on post. MeriTalk reported that the Army will not establish an Army-licensed waste facility. It reported that the Army plans to negotiate a single waste disposition agreement with the Department of Energy. It reported that waste would be sent to a Department of Energy site. It reported that the department would take title to the waste. It reported that the agreement has not yet been finalized. Waksman said the Department of Energy is considering potential waste sites. He said some sites face local opposition. Waksman said the intent is not for companies to solve waste disposal individually. He said the Pentagon will develop a single solution.

What comes next

Funding will flow across fiscal 2027 through 2031. Each company has different reactor numbers and milestone structures. Each company has different dollar amounts and total obligations. The Army said vendors are also intended to place technologies at other service installations as Janus advances. Additional Army and other-service sites will be announced later. The Army said the effort supports revitalization of American industrial capacity. The Army said it supports technological leadership. The service expects the deals to spur billions in additional capital investment. The goal includes positioning vendors to sell products to other customers. The next visible milestone is the Sept. 30, 2028 operating-reactor requirement. The requirement calls for at least one reactor operating and providing useful electricity. The Army said site work, regulatory reviews, fuel fabrication and long-lead procurement will precede construction. The Army earlier scrapped a 2024 memorandum of understanding with the Tennessee Valley Authority for green energy. Breaking Defense reported that the Army and the authority will examine different approaches. The Janus awards now define the Army's central installation-energy construction effort for the next five years.