US Army plans nuclear microreactors at 5 military bases as part of $2.2B energy security push

The U.S. Army is moving forward with plans to bring nuclear power to five military installations as part of a multibillion-dollar effort to strengthen the military’s energy security and reduce its reliance on potentially vulnerable power grids.

The Army announced Wednesday that its Janus Program selected five nuclear energy companies for awards of up to a combined $2.2 billion to own, build and operate nuclear microreactors at bases in North Carolina, Kentucky, Texas, Georgia and New York.

The announcement comes as the Army works toward a September 2028 target outlined in an executive order signed by President Donald Trump calling for the first Army-regulated reactor to begin operating on a military installation.

Combined with expected private-sector investment, the Army said it expects more than 20 nuclear microreactors to eventually be built and operated across Department of War installations.

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The initial reactors will be built by Antares Nuclear at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; BWXT Advanced Technologies at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems at Fort Hood, Texas.

Additionally, the Army said Radiant Industries will install a reactor at Fort Benning, Georgia, while Westinghouse Government Services will install one at Fort Drum, New York.

Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll emphasized the importance of securing reliable power for military installations.

“Since launching the Janus Program, our mandate from President Trump and Secretary Hegseth has been clear: secure the power our warfighters need to train, deploy, and win,” Driscoll said.

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“Awarding these contracts accelerates our ability to deliver safe, reliable baseload power directly to our installations,” he continued. “We are building the energy resilience necessary to project combat power globally, without relying on potentially vulnerable external grids.”

The Army said the funding will be distributed from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 using a milestone-based payment model, meaning companies will receive government funding only after meeting specified technical goals.

Each vendor is also expected to contribute significant private capital.

The Army said it spent roughly a year evaluating potential installations based on factors including energy needs, seismic and hydrological considerations and safety.

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Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, emphasized that the effort is not simply an experiment, but is intended to produce reactors capable of reliably providing power for years.

“We are seeking not just reactors capable of turning on for a brief demonstration, but rather systems able to deliver power with high-capacity factors for years of operation,” Waksman said.

“The Janus Program will be a complete success when and only when we have assisted multiple nuclear companies in developing truly reliable and affordable nuclear microreactors which they can sell to other buyers beyond just the military.”

The Army said the five initial locations are only the beginning, with additional Army and other military service sites expected to be announced later.

“We need more power. We need it delivered faster and cheaper, and we need it to be more reliable,” Owen West, director of the Department of War Innovation Unit, said. “With Janus, DIU is assisting the Army’s micro reactor build – speeding military energy production to protect the nation.”